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Simmons Says - Pioneers slowed by tired legs
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Jeffery Simmons
Updated: Sep 17, 2018, 9:31 PM
Published: Sep 8, 2018, 9:05 PM

Trailing 20-13 with the prospect of getting the ball to start the second half, one would expect the Pioneers to come bouncing out of the locker room. Instead, when Warren County returned to the field, the home sideline was filled with exhaustion.

That’s how a tight contest turned into a 41-13 blowout.

With the welcome mat rolled out, Warren County played one of its best halves of the season. Homecoming packed the stands and the Pioneers gave the fans plenty to cheer.

Noah Martin’s big sack and forced fumble ignited the packed crowd at Nunley Stadium. CJ Taylor’s first of two touchdown runs put the Pioneers in the lead.

Even after Shelbyville’s air attack got humming, the Pioneers still showed their will to win. Warren County rallied back with an 18-play march in the second quarter, again capped by the talented sophomore tailback.

Then the wheels fell off.

Shelbyville struck late in the second quarter and never looked back, sending waves of bodies at the gasping Pioneers.

The Eagles on each of their first three drives in the second half, facing only three third-down situations out of their 22 plays. Shelbyville converted twice and the lone third-down stop turned into a 21-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-long.

Simply put, the Pioneers were too tired to put up much resistance.

The effort was there. It’s just hard to sustain when 7-8 players are trying to play every snap on each side of the ball. Oftentimes the Pioneer coaching staff was searching the sidelines, hoping a fresh body would emerge to give a couple of snaps.

It’s been like that all season. It doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon either.

Warren County is in desperate need of a bye week, but it’s not coming for another month. The 40-player (if you’re generous) roster isn’t equipped to trot out a fresh and feisty team for eight straight weeks.

It may not be able to roll out a squad for five.

This Friday’s Coffee County game is one of the most circled on the calendars the day Alontae Taylor walked across the stage to get his diploma in Manchester. Without the guy who is starting on Saturdays in Knoxville now, the Red Raiders are much more of a favorable matchup for the Pioneers.

But does it matter if the Pioneers can’t make it through the game with enough healthy bodies? I guess we’ll find out Friday.

There are 40 kids and a coaching staff out there fighting every Friday, working hard to try to give Warren County some faith football can be successful in town. They just need help.

At risk of sounding like a broken record, skipping back over and over, the Pioneers need more bodies.

They’ve built the facilities. When will more players come?
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.