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WCHS players earn all-district honors
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Three Warren County High School basketball players received honors last week from District 6-AAA coaches.
Seniors Trace Taylor and Jessie Newby and junior Brittany Myers were each named honorable mention all-district for their solid performances for the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers.
Taylor, who joined the WCHS boys basketball team before his junior season, emerged as the Pioneers’ top offensive option during his senior year. Blessed with outstanding athleticism and a knack for finishing around the rim, Taylor averaged 13.9 points per game in the nine district contests he was able to play. The senior forward missed the Pioneers’ district debut in December against Cumberland County with an eye injury.
Taylor was at his best on the road, where he scored in double figures all five games. His best outing was a career-high 22 points against the Jets. He had 19 points in games at White County and Rhea County.
First-year coach John Dillard wishes he could have more years coaching the talented senior.
“Trace has improved as much as any young man I have coached in one season,” said Dillard. “When I arrived he was an athletic player, who had little playing experience. Through hard work and excellent teaching by assistant coaches Jerry Brown and Josh Nunley, who work with post men on their individual skills every day, Trace became our go-to guy.”
“With his quickness and athleticism, he was a matchup nightmare for opponents. I wish I had more years with him and had time to improve his perimeter skills.”
Newby was the heart and soul behind a Lady Pioneer team that shocked many by winning 17 games in the regular season. Known as a defensive dynamo, Newby emerged as a top option for coach Erick Baird in the post during her senior year. Newby had three double-digit scoring games in district play while averaging 8.9 points per game in eight contests.
Significant injuries to her elbow and foot forced Newby to miss two district games late in the season, but she returned to play her final game at Charlie Dalton Gym. The Lady Pioneers would claim their second district victory with a 60-55 victory over Stone Memorial.
The first district win came in White County when the Lady Pioneers snapped a 12-year losing streak to the Warriorettes. The 51-45 victory in Sparta, when Newby and Myers each scored eight points, proved to be the only loss for White County in district play as the Warriorettes claimed the regular-season title.
Coach Baird praised the impact his senior made on the team while playing through pain.
“Jessie has really played well the whole year. She has fought through injury and, even though she wasn’t 100 percent, she always gives 100 percent effort.”
Myers was a stabilizing force for the Lady Pioneers as her senior teammate dealt with ailments. The junior guard, who showed great touch from the outside all season, averaged a team-high 11.1 points per game in district play.
Myers particularly enjoyed playing Stone Memorial. In two matchups against the Lady Panthers, Myers finished with a career-high 20 points and 16 points in last week’s victory that clinched the No. 5 seed in the District 6-AAA tournament for the Lady Pioneers.
While Myers made a big jump offensively this season, coach Baird also thought the guard made big strides defensively.
“Brittany has become a good scorer along with playing good defense. She’s risen above her nickname as a traffic cone on defense,” said Baird. “She’s becoming a leader and really got us hitting our stride heading into the postseason.”
All the all-district honorees took the court Saturday night as the District 6-AAA started in Cookeville after being postponed two nights. Results were unavailable at press time.
For more information, check Wednesday’s Southern Standard and follow @SStandardSports on Twitter.

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.