Hundreds of Warren County Middle School students had plenty to cheer about when they came out to watch the Pioneer baseball team play Friday at home against White County.
With Tyler Prater rolling on the mound and Trayton Rackley blasting RBI hits, the Pioneers downed White County 11-2 to improve to 7-5 this season. Prater dominated on his way to a complete-game victory over the Warriors while Rackley finished with three hits and three RBIs to spark the Pioneer offense in front of a huge home crowd.
Students were able to watch the Pioneers play on a perfect Friday afternoon and the fans didn’t have to wait long for Warren County to give them something to cheer. Prater battled out of a jam in the first inning when he recorded back-to-back strikeouts with runners on first and second base. He’d go on to spark a three-run rally in the first inning when the Pioneers took the lead for good.
Prater started things by drawing a lead-off walk. After advancing to second, Prater was able to score when Rackley ripped his first RBI hit of the game into left field. Crockett Walker would add an RBI single of his own before making it 3-0 early by scoring on a passed ball.
Cole Estes made it 4-0 when he doubled and scored in the second inning, but White County answered back with its first run in the top of the third. Prater responded by striking out the side in the fourth inning, part of a day where the Pioneer starter would strike out 10.
The Pioneers would get more separation in the bottom of the fourth inning by doubling their run total. Center fielder Ethan Smith started a four-run rally with a single, which was followed by singles by Prater and Wesley Jennings. Rackley cleared the bases by ripping a triple into the gap and giving the Pioneers a 7-1 lead. Rackley would score on an error on the next play.
Run-scoring singles by Will Cantrell and Smith in the fifth inning pushed the Pioneers into double figures before Rackley added his last highlight with a triple in the sixth inning. Jack Keele entered to run for Rackley and scored to end the game with the Pioneers ahead by nine.
The win was the Pioneers’ second of the week over White County. Warren County will go for three straight victories at Franklin North Monday. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.