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WCHS JV stings Bees
Pioneers beat Upperman in close contest
Josh-MacanasWEB
Josh Macanas fights his way for another gain and first down in Thursday nights win over the Upperman Golden Eagles 36-32. Macanas scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Jeffery Simmons
Updated: Sep 10, 2016, 7:03 PM
Published: Sep 10, 2016, 8:04 PM

First winning the toss and then clinching the game, the Warren County High School JV football team defeated the Upperman Bees 36-32 at Nunley Stadium on Thursday night after a Warren County early lead gave way to a suspenseful finale that had fans buzzing.
The Pioneers chose to kick off and Upperman stumbled early fumbling, then recovering, the kickoff. The Bees fumbled again on their first possession and Pioneer Luke Nisbett was there to recover setting up an 18-yard TD scramble by Tre Ladet. A failed conversion attempt had the Pioneers up 6-0 just minutes into the game.
Warren County stuffed Upperman on its next possession to regain the ball. That’s when Pioneer Josh Macanas took some real estate with 49 yards, 43 of which was a TD run. This time the two-point conversion was good leading to a Pioneer 14-0 lead.
The Bees clawed their way back into the ballgame, 14-8, with 3:43 left in the first half thanks to a 20-yard TD run and successful two-point conversion.
The Pioneers struck back quickly with a drive starting at Upperman’s 44-yard line. Macanas and Tre Ladet steamrolled to the 1-yard line where Macanas took it in for six and Haywood added two for the halftime score, 22-8.
It was still all Warren County when Noah Miles took the ball 19 yards for a TD, 28-8, and Ladet added the two-point conversion, 30-8, with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.
That’s when the Bees started to swarm as they attacked on the ground and in the air with Upperman QB Donoven McCallister throwing into the endzone followed by a successful conversion making it 30-16 in just 33 seconds.
The Pioneers went four and out and the Bees took to the air again as McCallister threw a 30-yard pass to receiver Drew Davidson followed by a keeper by McCallister and another conversion, 30-24.
The Pioneers came back but came up a little short on third down, opting a fake punt which was unsuccessful and turned the ball over on downs.
A critical juncture ensued for the Bees, but Nisbett would have none of it as he sacked McCallister for a loss of three. From this point on, it was all Warren County as the defense stepped up as Antonia Gantt recovered a Bee fumble.
Ladet ran down the clock with another first down into the Bees red zone where Upperman expended all its timeouts trying to recover. It didn’t happen as the Pioneers sealed the deal when Jaterrius Rozer added six more making it 36-24 with 2:24 remaining.
The Bees took to the air one last time with a McCallister to Davidson 64-yard TD pass and conversion 36-32. Upperman tried an onsides kick in the remaining 1:10, but excellent special teams play by Aaron Myers covered it right up, effectively ending the contest as the Pioneers took a knee to run out the clock.
“The boys played hard,” said Pioneer coach Paul Martin. “They’re finally buying into what we’ve been trying to do … play for each other and the team. What more could you ask?”
“We have some great coaches,” Martin continued. “I have to give a shout-out to the defensive line with players like T.R. Dyer, Emilio Sanchez, Brian Valadez, Wayne Randolph and Austin McBride.”
Also coaching for the Pioneer JV team were Camron Bond, Dylan Crews, Ben Matheny, Isaac Slatton, Brandon Thomas, Michael Thrower, David Upton and Lucas Williams.
Said Upperman coach Brett Nash, “I’m very proud of the way the kids fought back after trailing at the half. It shows a lot of character and toughness from our young guys to fight back and nearly get the win.”
Freshman/JV Pioneer action continues on the road, Monday, Sept. 19, in White County beginning at 6 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.