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Titans sign S Michael Griffin to new deal
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Safety Michael Griffin has been on the Tennessee defense longer than anyone else, and the Titans made sure Tuesday he will stick around as they rebuild the unit with his leadership.

The Titans announced the five-year extension Tuesday shortly after the end of their first session of a three-day minicamp, a deal eased in part by the man quietly taking part in the offseason program despite being tagged as the team's franchise player back in March.

"He is a big part of what we're trying to do moving forward," general manager Ruston Webster said.

"We really want to keep a core of our players together. I think that's important in building a team, and Michael has the talent and the character we look for in our players. He's handled himself like a true pro through this whole franchise tag thing, and I couldn't be happier to sign him to a new deal and have him be a Titan for a long time."

A two-time Pro Bowl safety, Griffin did not balk at being tagged, with $6.2 million in guaranteed money if he played the season under that contract. He wound up with reportedly $15 million in guaranteed money in a deal worth up to $36 million.

Griffin said he handled the tag his way, telling his agent, Ben Dogra, he wanted to take part in the offseason program from the start and asked if he could sign something to protect himself in case of injury to be with his teammates.

"That was all that was important," Griffin said. "It was just to be here and working out with the team. I had a great time this offseason. Two more days, then we all break. I can't wait for training camp to get back around these guys. Just to be around them this is my job. This is like my family. I just enjoy being around them."

Griffin's agent credited the safety and the Titans with being willing to work together.

"It's not always easy to work through a franchise tag," Dogra said.

Griffin was a first-round draft pick in 2007 out of Texas, and his 17 interceptions rank fourth among safeties over the past five years — tops among safeties in his class.

He has played in all 80 games with 73 starts since being drafted 19th overall. He ranked third with 96 tackles last season with Pro Bowl selections in 2008 and 2010.

Last August, the Titans were trying to talk with Cortland Finnegan's agent about an extension only to see the feisty cornerback bolt camp briefly upset at negotiations. Talks died down, and Finnegan wound up signing his big deal in St. Louis.

With Finnegan gone along with the departure of safety Chris Hope, Griffin is the most tenured player on the defense with Tennessee. The Titans brought back Jordan Babineaux at the other safety spot for a second straight year, a veteran going into his ninth NFL season. Linebacker Will Witherspoon is a 10-year NFL veteran with the past two in Tennessee.

Webster said they like Griffin's size at 6-foot and 203 pounds along with his athletic ability and ball skills.

"He's tough. He can play in the box. He can play deep, and he can intercept the ball and make plays," Webster said. "And I think we can help him more. The more rush we get, the more balls are going to be up there for him to get, and we're going to get better not only on the back end with him being long term, but also up front. I like the way our defense is heading."

Griffin believes he can improve too, especially after spending the offseason learning the tweaks in the defense by coordinator Jerry Gray that the NFL lockout last year prevented. He also wants to be more consistent.

"Make the plays I know I'm capable of, making plays I made in the past," Griffin said. "Not trying to do too much, just do my job and stay focused. I think that's the most thing I can do for this team. Play my game, be consistent and let the game come to me."

Notes: Chris Johnson was excused from Tuesday's session. Coach Mike Munchak said Johnson will be back Wednesday and noted the team asked the running back to attend four days each week in the offseason program only to see him around five days. ... RG Leroy Harris rejoined the first-team offensive line Tuesday, ahead of a schedule that had him not taking part until training camp coming off shoulder surgery. ... WR Lavelle Hawkins also practiced despite an ankle that had him limited last week. But Munchak said rookie WR Kendall Wright, who landed hard on a shoulder last week, will not practice in the minicamp as protection.

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.