By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Saturday split for Lady Pioneers
Gwynie Simpson
Photo courtesy of Painted Barn Media Senior Gwynie Simpson protects the net during Saturday's games in Tullahoma. Warren County split its matches and is now 1-2 this season.
Jeffery Simmons
Updated: Aug 21, 2018, 11:24 PM
Published: Aug 21, 2018, 11:28 PM

Every game is a new adventure for the young Lady Pioneer soccer team and coach Todd Willmore. Saturday’s visit to Tullahoma was the first road trip for the squad, and it brought mixed results.

Playing in the Southern Middle Tennessee Invitational, Warren County finished 1-1. The Lady Pioneers opened with a 3-2 victory over Tullahoma before falling 5-1 against Lincoln County.

“I’m proud of the girls. We had some girls who played a JV game and then in two varsity games,” said Willmore. “We had girls step up. This is a fun group. They’re fun to be around, they work hard and they understand what it’s going to take to be successful.

“I’m hopeful by the end of the year, we’ll be there. We’re gradually putting it together.”

After a tough 2-0 loss in their season opener last week against Ooltewah, the Lady Pioneers got off to a sluggish start Saturday in Tullahoma. Warren County found itself in a similar position as the first game when it allowed an early goal to the Lady Wildcats.

Fortunes finally started to change right before halftime, when Warren County got on the board for the first time this season.

Savannah Cox took a corner kick and played a long ball in front of the Tullahoma net. Sam Ramsey rushed in, surprising the Tullahoma defense when she was able to get a foot on the ball and play it straight into the net.

“It was a beautiful corner. Sam came out of nowhere to get a foot on the ball. It was a sweet goal,” said Willmore.

The Lady Pioneers surged after the score.

Freshman Katie Toney took over in the second half. Toney broke the tie in the first minutes of the second half, going top shelf on a free kick from 30 yards.
 
Moments later, Toney rushed through three Tullahoma defenders, drawing all the attention to herself before dropping off a pass. Sarai Ruiz did the rest, burying an open look to make it 3-1.

Tullahoma got back within one score late, but the Lady Pioneers smothered the ball down the stretch to earn their first win.

Warren County was nearly out of steam by the time it took the field against Lincoln County.

The Lady Pioneers fell behind 3-0 in the first half, but got a jolt again in the second half from Toney.

The freshman phenom took matters into her own hands, getting a ball and weaving through traffic. Toney was able to shake free from 3-4 defenders while attacking from an angle, then played a shot to the backside corner, sliding the shot in for a score.

“Once Katie scored, we shook out of the tiredness. All the girls picked up the pace and got some momentum,” said Willmore. “We kept up some high pressure and had chances, but couldn’t make up the goals.”

After attempts to get back in the game stalled, Lincoln County finished off Warren County with two late goals.

Warren County went back to work Tuesday night with a home game against Riverdale. Results were unavailable at press time. Check Friday’s Standard for details. 
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png
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.