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WCHS anglers compete at state
Asa Robertson original
Photos provided Asa Robertson hits Old Hickory Lake early over the weekend to compete in the state championship. Robertson was one of 16 Pioneers to take part in the event
Jeffery Simmons
Updated: May 11, 2018, 12:27 AM
Published: May 11, 2018, 12:30 AM

If fish are biting, then it won’t take long for the Warren County angling team to come around.

Members of the Pioneer angling team descended on Old Hickory Lake last weekend, taking part in a two-day state championship.

Pioneer standouts Samuel and Matthew Vandagriff were once again near the top of the field, finishing second out of 162 teams who cast the reels in search of the biggest bass. The brothers bagged five fish each day, with a total combined weight of 27.33 pounds.

The Vandagriffs held the lead after the first day, but Ezra Smith and Devin Howard surged on the second day to win the event, bringing in a combined weight of 32.73 pounds.

The Pioneers had eight teams compete in the event. Ethan Harris and Harley Muncey (10.37 pounds) finished 64th, followed by Jeff McCormick and Curtis Grissom (9.72 lbs., 69th), Will Prater and Aiden Grissom (9.41lbs., 71st), Blake Delong and Asa Robertson (9.19 lbs., 74th), Lane Lassister and Johnathan Walls (8.52 lbs., 77th), Jaymeson Hale and Easton Snider (7.46 lbs., 86th) and Jacob Frizzell and Trace Pack (1.17 lbs., 148th).

Along with taking in second over the weekend, the Vandagriffs were awarded for being the best bass fishing team in the state this year. The Vandagriffs won the TN Bass Nation points race, blowing away the competition by 31 points.

The brothers won on Center Hill Lake, took second in the state tournament and Battle of the Chick, and never finished lower than fourth in a tournament. The points race prize was a $2,000 scholarship to any school, along with a $40,000 scholarship offer to Bethel University. The brothers also took home $700 for second place.

Samuel capped the day by receiving the Hunter Northcutt Memorial merit scholarship worth $3,000.

The Vandagriffs will take part in the Bassmaster Texas Fest in two weeks, an event Samuel qualified for when he was named an All-American. The duo will also compete in the Bassmaster Nationals in August.  
WCHS softball blanks Warren East, baseball goes 1-3 through weekend
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Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 9, 2025, 2:26 AM

Two days after steamrolling Shelbyville 20-0, the Warren County softball team carried its hot streak into the weekend with a Saturday matchup against Warren East (Ky.).

The Lady Pioneers continued to roll, taking down the visiting Lady Raiders 5-0.

The team posted nine hits over the course of the game, led by Lily Rains and Kyaira Sharpe with two each.

Addison Smith, Kaydence Wiser, Cortlyn Porter, Ceilee Gudat and Ali Young all followed with one hit each.

Porter had two of Warren County’s five RBI, with one each for Wiser, Sharpe and Young.

Gudat went the distance in the circle, striking out six and holding Warren East to four hits across all seven innings.

WCHS baseball loses three of four.

The Warren County High School baseball team was back in action Friday evening with a pair of games against Marion County and Heritage Christian (Ala.).

In their first game against Marion County, the Pioneers came up just short in an 8-7, 5.5-inning loss.

Sam Robinson led Warren County’s effort at the plate with two of the team’s seven hits. Tyler Adams, Ryder Gilispie, Woogs Bryan, Hayven Jones and Corban Felton each added one. Adams, Robinson, Jones and Jerren Harris each had one RBI for a team total of four.

Brady Swallows got it started on the mound with three strikeouts, three hits, four runs and three walks. Jaytton Baker followed for 1.1 innings and came off with five hits and three runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped it up with two strikeouts, two hits and one run over the last two innings.

The Pioneers had better luck in their nightcap against Heritage Christian, coming out on top 4-1 in five innings.

Warren County finished the game with eight hits, including two each for both Gilispie and Bryan. Felton, Jones, Baker and Evan Snapp followed with one hit each.

Bryan came away with two of the team’s three RBI, with Gilispie adding the third.

Jones pitched 4.2 innings and finished with six strikeouts, five hits, one run and six walks.

Gilispie came on to close out the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Pioneers were back at it Saturday with two more games against Sequatchie County and Whitwell, respectively.

Opening against Sequatchie County, Warren County gave up eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on the way to a 9-0, 6.5-inning shutout loss to begin the day.

The team was held to three hits, with one each for Felton, Bryan and Jones.

Keaton Rowe pitched 5.2 innings, striking out two and allowing six hits, eight runs and three walks. Isaac Smith added one strikeout, two hits and one run to close out the bottom of the sixth inning.

Warren County once again ran into scoring trouble against Whitwell, falling 6-1 in six innings to the Tigers.

Smith was credited with three of the team’s four hits, with Felton adding the fourth.

Robinson had the team’s lone RBI.

Braden Whinnery got it started on the mound with three strikeouts, three hits, four runs and one walk through 3.2 innings. Lealon Arnold came on in relief, finishing the top of the fourth inning with one hit and one run. Up next was Miguel Garcia, who additionally surrendered one hit and one run in the top of the fifth inning. Keagan Thompson closed it out, striking out one and adding one more hit over the remaining 1.2 innings.