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Titans, 2-9, stuck in miserable season
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Rookie left tackle Taylor Lewan is backed up against a locker wearing a walking boot on his sprained left ankle when asked about the Titans closing in on the franchise's worst record since moving to Tennessee.

"That's really good to kick me when I'm down like that, that's good," Lewan said Monday.

Lewan isn't alone, the Titans are down as a franchise.

Tennessee (2-9) is mired in a five-game skid, losing nine of 10 overall. Now the injuries are starting to pile up along with the losses for a franchise off to its worst start since moving to Tennessee in 1997.

First-year Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt was hired to turn things around, and they haven't won since Sammie Hill's fingertips swatted away a field goal Oct. 12 against the Jaguars — who at 1-10 have a worse record than Tennessee.

"Sick feeling in my stomach all the time," Whisenhunt said. "I mean nothing changes that except when you win, so it's not a lot of fun."

And there hasn't been much fun around the Titans facilities.

Here's how ugly it's been:

— This is the worst start since this team moved to Tennessee in 1997 and the worst since a 1-9 start in 1994 cost Jack Pardee his job with the then-Houston Oilers. That team wound up 2-14, and the worst record in Tennessee was 4-12 in 2005. Six of the Titans' losses this season have been by at least 14 points.

— Whisenhunt hasn't impressed Tennessee fans — his personal skid is even worse than the Titans. Whisenhunt now is 3-20 as a head coach dating back to his final 12 games in Arizona in 2012. Titans president Tommy Smith has made it clear he's sticking with both Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster.

— The Titans are on their third quarterback. Whisenhunt played four quarterbacks his final season in Arizona. He's gambling on a rookie drafted in the sixth round with Zach Mettenberger, who is 0-4. The rookie threw for 345 yards in Sunday's 43-24 loss to Philadelphia, the most yards passing by a rookie this season and the most by a rookie for this franchise.

— Tennessee has lost five players to season-ending injuries, including four starters — left tackle Michael Roos, tight end Craig Stevens, safety Bernard Pollard and linebacker Zach Brown. They've had plenty of company in the training room with four other starters missing at least two games to injuries.

While Lewan is in a walking boot, at least he didn't break his ankle. Center Brian Schwenke had an MRI exam on his left knee, and Whisenhunt didn't have an update on their status Monday.

Running back Bishop Sankey suffered a stinger that caused him to fumble, and running back Dexter McCluster is recovering from a concussion. Safety Michael Griffin dislocated his left shoulder but returned and finished.

And though the results don't reflect a changing of losing attitudes, Whisenhunt's believes Griffin's actions do.

"I think that speaks a lot to buying into what we're trying to get done," Whisenhunt said. "I have a lot of respect for that."

Tennessee also appears to coming up on a break in the schedule with a lineup of upcoming games against teams below .500.

The Titans play the Texans (5-6) Sunday, but Houston handed Mettenberger a 30-16 loss in his first NFL start a month ago. Then Tennessee heads into December against the Jets, Giants and Jaguars — a combined 6-26.

With five games left, tight end Delanie Walker said they have to stick together and keep fighting to show what they can do next year. Team officials in personnel and the coaches will be watching, trying to figure out what they need to be better in 2015.

"It's the NFL," Walker said. "Teams every year have their ups and downs, and right now we're having a down."

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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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.