Taking a three-game losing streak into District 6-AAA play wasn’t what Warren County wanted to do, but it didn’t seem to effect the Pioneers once action started in White County.
With Derek Brumley dominating on the mound, the Pioneers won 5-1 to snap their losing streak and improve to 7-4 this season.
Brumley picked up right where he left off last week. After firing a two-hit shutout against Grundy County the Monday before, Brumley took the bump against White County and fired another two-hitter to earn his third win of the season.
The Pioneers never trailed as the team started District 6-AAA play with an impressive win over the Warriors.
Warren County took an early lead when the team rallied with two outs in the first inning.
Senior Garrison Holmes started the rally by being hit with a pitch, then Brumley doubled into left field to put two runners in scoring position.
Coach Adam Childs brought in courtesy runners for his catcher and pitcher and Austin Green brought in those two speedsters with a double to right field.
The only run Brumley would allow came in the first inning and White County did it without getting a hit.
Brumley issued a lead-off walk and the Warriors manufactured the run with a sacrifice fly after a stolen base and sac bunt.
Neither team scored in the next three innings as Brumley looked poised to make the one-run lead stand up against the Warriors, the same team which ended the Pioneers’ season a year ago in the District 6-AAA tournament.
Warren County gave its pitcher some insurance in the fifth inning though.
Freshman Chayse Frye led off the fifth with a double, then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Grandey.
Brett Mullican doubled to score Frye, but also scored himself on a bizarre play. Mullican tried to take third and the ball looked like it was going to beat the speedy senior to the bag.
However, the throw wasn’t accurate and Mullican was able to take third and home on the wild throw, making it 4-1.
Mullican’s speed also accounted for the final Warren County run. Mullican led off the seventh with a single, then proceeded to steal second and take third on a wild pitch.
After two straight line outs, Mullican took matters into his own hands. White County’s pitcher decided to pitch from the wind-up, something usually done with no runners aboard.
Unable to make a pick-off attempt after starting his motion, Mullican sprinted toward home after the pitcher’s first step back.
Mullican scored before the pitch even arrived at the plate as the senior’s swipe of home gave Brumley more than enough run support.
Brumley finished strong, striking out the final two batters of the game to give the Pioneers a much-needed win.
Mullican, Green and Brumley all finished with two hits apiece. Green led the team with two RBIs while Mullican finished with one RBI and two runs scored.
The win for Warren County came after the team had dropped three games in the span of two days to end last week.
The Pioneers were swept in a doubleheader Friday against Tullahoma, then lost 7-4 at home to Murfreesboro Central Saturday.
Sophomore Tristan Smith took the loss on the hill, giving up six runs on three hits while walking three. Kyle Rutledge pitched the final four innings, giving up one run on three hits.
Logan Underhill and Daulton Foster led the charge offensively against Murfreesboro Central, finishing with two hits each. Foster had two RBIs, while Holmes and Mullican drove in one each.
The Pioneers played host to White County last night for the second game of the home-and-home series. Results were unavailable at press time.
Warren County returns to action Friday night with an away game against Sequatchie County. The contest will begin at 6:30 p.m.