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Snagging a victory
WCHS seniors
Jacob Dodd photo Three seniors played their final game on the WCHS softball diamond Tuesday. From left, Hope Mullican, Kyra Hillis and Lexie Chadwell went out as winners, helping down Stone Memorial 15-0.
Jeffery Simmons
Published: May 4, 2018, 12:55 AM

The senior night softball game barely lasted longer than the pregame festivities.

On a night where three seniors played their final game at home, Warren County High School thumped Stone Memorial in four innings, winning 15-0 over the Lady Panthers.

Hope Mullican, Lexie Chadwell and Kyra Hillis played big parts in the blowout victory, with the seniors combining for eight hits and five RBIs in the Lady Pioneers’ seventh straight win. It was indicative of their contributions for the last two seasons, where Warren County has established itself as one of the best teams in the Midstate.

“These three seniors have been great for our program. They’ve gotten better each season,” said coach Gooby Martin. “They have a season championship and co-season championship in the last two years. It’s something to be proud of.

“They are all having their best seasons as seniors. They will be missed on and off the field.”

Maddie Cantrell earned the victory, throwing her first shutout of the season while holding the Lady Panthers to just four hits in her four innings of work.

Cantrell needed only 45 pitches to shut down Stone Memorial, especially when the Lady Pioneers got rolling at the plate in the fourth inning.

Warren County carried a 5-0 advantage into the fourth before showing off one of the most explosive offenses in District 6AAA.

The seniors sparked a 10-run inning, with Mullican and Hillis rocketing shots into the outfield got singles. Bri Young to the scoring started with a rip into left field, allowing both seniors to score.

Ashton Whiles continued the onslaught, rattling the left-field fence with a double over the retreating Lady Panther outfield. Whiles move to third on a grounder, then proceed to swipe home on a passed ball.

Trailing 9-0, Stone Memorial had a chance to get out of the inning on a potential double-play ball, but MaKenna Mason showed off her wheels to beat the throw to first. It was the last shot the Lady Panthers would get at retiring the Lady Pioneers.

Hailey Wood and Emily Mikkola loaded the bases with singles, bringing the seniors back to the plate. Mullican scored one run when she was hit by a pitch, while Hillis made it 12-0 with a shot into right field to bring in Wood and Mikkola.

Young followed with her second two-run single of the frame, a laser into right field that put her into scoring position when she advanced to second on a throw home – one too late to get Hillis.

Rhealee Johnson provided the final blow, rocking another deep fly into centerfield. The one-hopper off the fence gave Young more than enough time to come in for the winning run.

The thrill of victory didn’t last long for the Lady Pioneers though. On Wednesday, Rhea County used a six-run sixth inning to down Warren County 8-4 in the final district game for both teams.

The Lady Pioneers would have clinched their second straight District 6AAA title with the victory, but the loss dropped Warren County into a three-way tie for first with Rhea County and Cookeville. The tiebreaker left the Lady Pioneers as the third seed in the district tournament, which begins Friday.

Warren County will try to get its revenge Friday against Rhea County in an opening round matchup at White County. The Lady Pioneers and Lady Eagles will square off at 5 p.m.
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.