If Phillip King could petition to play all Pioneer games on Saturday, Warren County would be on the fast track to the state championship. 

Warren County continued to be a weekend warrior at home, downing the Cumberland County Jets 12-2 Saturday at Patrick Ramsey Field. Weekdays, particularly in district matchups, continued to be a struggle though as the Pioneers followed with a 5-0 loss at Columbia Monday.

The Pioneers were coming off a doubleheader demolishing of White County (11-1) and Whitwell (10-0) last Saturday when they took the field against the Jets over the weekend. It was more of the same for the Pioneers as they used dominant pitching and big hitting to keep their record unblemished at home on Saturdays.

Freshman Ryder Gillespie answered the call on the bump against Cumberland County, throwing five solid innings to notch his first career win. Gillespie allowed just three hits and two runs while striking out four. 

Run support was never an issue for Gillespie as Easton Denning started the game with a solo home run - his fourth long ball of the season - and the Pioneers followed with a scoring barrage.

Alex van Vuuren had two hits and four RBIs, including a two-run double in the fourth when the Pioneers started to close in on the run rule.

Errors and walks helped Warren County go up 10-2 in the fifth, then Woogs Bryan delivered the knockout with a two-run single to enact the run rule.

Aiden Miller had a team-high three hits in the win, followed by van Vuuren and Hayven Jones with two hits each. Bryan, Denning and Tyler Adams had one hit apiece.

In Monday's tough road loss, the Pioneers were shut down by Columbia ace Lane Sharp. Sharp struck out 13 and allowed just three hits in the District 9-4A battle.

Miller had two hits for the Pioneers, while Brayan Holguin finished with one. 

Evan Snapp took the loss, allowing 10 hits over five-plus innings on the hill.