The Southern Standard wants to take the opportunity to highlight the standout local athletes. Partnering with R3 Logistics and Mud Bums Family Sports Grill, we will be honoring a Pioneer of the Week throughout the 2022-23 school year. Our honoree from March 19-25 is WCHS Catcher Jaz Ward.
Jaz Ward is always ready to play her role. For the last two years with the Lady Pioneers, sometimes that was just pinch-running, throwing on the catching gear in warmups or being the biggest cheerleader in the dugout. Now as a junior, Ward is breaking out after being inserted into the starting lineup.
She's attacking it the same enthusiasm she showed the last two years too.
Ward was a spark during Warren County's four-game winning streak last week, which featured a sweep of Cookeville and wins over Blackman and Science Hill (Ind.) in the Southern Warrior Classic. She was a terror at the plate and behind it as well, playing lockdown defense as the team's backstop to keep opponents from scoring while she also helped pile up runs for the Lady Pioneers.
Ward came into the season with just 18 career at-bats, a number she nearly eclipsed in six Lady Pioneer games last week (where the team went 4-2 after falling Saturday to Tullahoma and Castle, Ind.). Ward was 7-for-17 at the plate, helping her amass an early .409 batting average this season - currently second on the team. She was at her best against Blackman, where Warren County needed every hit it could get to rally and beat the Blaze.
The highlight of the week for Ward came in the second inning against Blackman, where she jump-started the Lady Pioneer comeback with a big blast. Ward worked at seven-pitch at-bat with her team down 4-0 and finally found the one she wanted on the last offering. Ward bashed the ball over the left-field fence as her teammates erupted and met her at the plate.
It was Ward's first homer in a regular season game as a Lady Pioneer, though she's been flashing her power since the team took the field in February. She also had a homer in the preseason.
Ward would go on to finish with three hits in the comeback victory over the Blaze, one wrapped up after Ward putting the winning run into scoring position with a single in the bottom of the fifth. Maggy Whiles followed with a game-winning double, one Ward and the Lady Pioneers gleefully celebrated after falling into a big hole early.
The standout catcher finished the weekend with a RBI hit against Tullahoma Saturday afternoon, although it came in a 9-4 loss to the Wildcats.
The Lady Pioneers will be looking to keep up their hot early start when they return to the diamond Monday night. Warren County is scheduled to play a make-up game against White County in Sparta. The matchup was originally supposed to be played as the season opener for both squads, but was postponed due to poor weather. Action should start at 7 p.m. on the road.
Editor's Note: Warren County originally had a game scheduled against Shelbyville for Tuesday, March 28 at home, but that game has been rescheduled for April 10.
Saturday results
Castle 6
Warren County 0
Lady Pioneer pitching - Ceilee Gudat (L) 1.0 IP, 4H, 5R, 4 ER, BB, Kyaira Sharpe 5.0 IP, 4H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 4K
Lady Pioneer hitting - no hits
Tullahoma 9
Warren County 4
Lady Pioneer pitching - Kora Forbes (L) 5.2 IP, 11H, 9R (6 ER), 6 BB, 2K
Lady Pioneer hitting - Addison Smith 2H, Lola Wells H, RBI, Jaz Ward H, RBI, Alyssa Mosley H, Maggy Whiles H, Jessie Young RBI
