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Pioneers take second place in Sun Drop Romp
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Nikki Childers
Updated: Dec 24, 2011, 12:02 AM
Published: Dec 24, 2011, 1:01 AM

Friday’s championship game of the Sun Drop Romp Christmas tournament was a District 6-AAA preview and Warren County knows now how much work is left to do before January.
The Cookeville Cavaliers crushed the Pioneers 66-44, sending Warren County to a second-place finish in the tournament the team played host to all week.
Warren County had a good run, beating Jackson County, Moore County and Cumberland County on its way to the finals.
Cookeville was too much for the Pioneers though, as the visiting Cavaliers shot the lights out early and never trailed in the championship game.
Warren County competed with the Cavaliers in the first quarter, even keeping the game within one possession for most of the quarter.
Hunter Daniel provided the first big shot for the Pioneers when he drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at seven. Jacob Reagan, who has been a big spark coming off the bench lately, came in to score on a pair of jumpers to keep Warren County close early.
The wheels began to fall off when the Pioneers lost track of Cookeville sniper Matt Case. Case drilled three straight 3-pointers to finish off the first quarter, the last of which forced coach Malcolm Montgomery to call a time-out while Case walked in front of the Warren County bench holding his follow through.
The Pioneers trailed 22-13 after the first period and a double-digit deficit soon followed. More three-point shooting by Case and the Cavaliers led to Warren County falling behind 37-20 entering halftime.
A prolonged offensive drought through the middle of the game ending up dooming the Pioneers. Warren County followed up a seven-point second quarter with an even more lackluster five-point third.
By the time Warren County started to get a rhythm in the fourth quarter, Cookeville had already built a 54-25 advantage.
The fourth quarter did provide one of the few highlights for the Pioneers.
Senior post Justin Ware, listed at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, showed the quickness of a guard on a coast-to-coast layup.
Ware picked off a pass at the Cookeville free-throw line and saw nobody in front of him. The big post lumbered up the court with two Cookeville players giving chase.
When the first Cavalier caught up and tried to steal the ball, Ware went behind his back and coasted in for a finger roll. The play sent the Warren County bench into a frenzy, but the celebration was short lived.
Cookeville seemed to take exception with the Pioneer celebration while being down 22 points.
The Cavaliers stuck with their starters for a few extra minutes and put an exclamation point on the game by going on a 10-0 run.
The Pioneers cut the deficit back to 22 after junior Kendall Rutledge nailed two long jumpers down the stretch, but Warren County was left waiting for the Jan. 24 rematch with the Cavaliers.
Ware led the Pioneers with nine points. Reagan was next with seven.
Following the game, the Pioneers were given a plaque honoring their 3-1 record throughout the week and second-place finish.
Daniel and Reagan were also recognized for their solid week of play in the Sun Drop Romp. Both seniors were named to the all-tournament team.
Daniel finished the week with 30 points, most coming against Jackson County when the senior forward scored 17 points in a three-point victory over the Blue Devils.
Reagan scored 37 points during the tournament, including pouring in 16 points against Cumberland County in the semifinals.
Warren County won the semifinal game over the Jets 60-53 on Thursday night.
In another District 6-AAA preview game, Reagan was captain clutch for Warren County as he went to the free-throw line down the stretch and hit 7-of-8 after the Jets tried to foul to lengthen the game.
McCorkle was second on the team with eight points and Daniel, Simmons and Rutledge added six points each.
Warren County will return to action on Tuesday when the team begins play in the Watertown Christmas tournament. The Pioneers finished second in the tournament last season and are currently scheduled to face Davidson Academy in the opening round beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 10:16 PM

One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.