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Simmons Says- Touching on recent topics
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Jeffery Simmons
Published: Apr 13, 2024, 2:14 PM

I hate it when I want to write a column, but there really isn't enough material on a single subject to go long form. Fortunately, if I wait long enough, a bunch of small topics will arise and I can hit on each of them in small snippets to make for one big column. 

Let's take a quick dive into a few recent topics that deserve some attention.


Turnham is a win 

for Warren County

I probably quote this line way too often in my writing, but I still think it resonates: "You either die a hero or live long enough to be villain." Right now, Kyle Turnham is absolutely locked in to his hero phase as a coach in Warren County.

It's been no secret that I didn't think the last hiring for the Lady Pioneer job went very well, nor did the management of the program throughout last year. Making a change after one year probably validated some of my concerns, but if I'm going to call out the bad I should praise the good as well. 

Turnham was as good of a hire the Lady Pioneers could have expected coming off a season of turmoil and he should steady the ship quickly.

I thought his answers in our Q&A session were solid, he has a solid reputation for being a tactician on the sideline and from my talks with players who will likely be on his roster next year, he made quite a good first impression with the team.

Of course that same line I quoted noted that you will live long enough to be the villain. I'm sure there will be some upset people around May when Turnham makes his first cuts or in the winter when the team inevitably takes its first loss, but for now all seems to be going well for Warren County girls basketball. 

Watching the Masters

I don't even have cable TV anymore, but I'm probably going to have to find somewhere Sunday to watch the Masters. There may not be a single sporting event - outside of when the teams I root for are playing - that captures my attention more than a wild Sunday at the Masters.

Will it be a wild one? Who knows. It was setting up that way after the first two rounds with three players tied for the lead and Tiger Woods lurking, so maybe we can get some must-see TV Sunday. 


I'm still bad at golf

Staying on the subject of golf, I was reminded Friday why I don't play much. I'm still awful.

I could make a ton of excuses, like how it was cold and windy when we tried to play in the Project Graduation tourney, but I don't think it would have mattered. The sun could've come out, the winds could've died down and Tiger himself could've been there trying to coach me and I still would've been snap-hooking every one of my shots out of bounds to the right. 

I'm not sure how many teams don't even turn in a scorecard in a scramble, but our team withdrew after 10 holes and just watched the Masters and everybody else playing. I think that was still more fun than being out there searching for my six lost shots.


Caldwell hired 

at Tennessee

I wrote a long column about how the Lady Vols needed to sacrifice sticking with tradition if they wanted to move forward with the program. I'd say the hiring of Kim Caldwell, who doesn't have a tie back to Pat Summitt, would be a clear sign that UT was OK with stepping outside the family to find the right coach.

Is Caldwell the right one? As Bob Kesling said to me when I asked the same question, "Check back with me in 4-5 years." Caldwell has a good track record for winning, but she's never coached at the level she's going to be next year. I think she can do it, but she'll need to win and win quick in Knoxville.

not observing Local teams 

I'm not sure if I can remember a spring where local teams went nearly a week without playing a single game (unless it was spring break). Last week's rain really put a damper on the spring sports season and felt like a hard reset for most of the teams.

It wasn't long ago when they were all off for spring break, so now it almost feels like everybody is trying to get back in the swing of things like it was in March when the season was just starting. That's not the greatest position to be in when the postseason is right around the corner (less than a month away from WCMS and WCHS).

Regular season district championships for the WCHS teams look to be out of the picture right now, unless the girls tennis team finishes the year strong. There is some hope for the postseason though as each group (softball, baseball and boys soccer) have all flashed glimpses of greatness despite not putting together lofty records. Hopefully the April showers are almost over.
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.