People say there’s a first time for everything … they also say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
The WCMS Pioneers stumbled over both, losing for the first time this season, 7-4, to the Christiana Cougars, but gaining some insight that will help going forward along the way.
“We played a top-notch team tonight and competed well against them,” said WCMS coach Chad Young. “We all made a few mistakes, including me.  As a team, we will learn from them and get better. This is the type of game that we needed to make us a better baseball team.”
Christiana got on the board early as they scored a run in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead the Cougars would hang onto until a home run by Pioneer Jace Brantley made it even, 1-1, in the bottom of the third.
It was a big fourth-inning rally by Christiana that would turn the tide, as CMS would score four runs off three hits in the fourth as their bats heated up. The Cougars had two runners on base off a hit-by-pitch and a walk before their bats came to life. It resulted in a 5-1 lead after the inning.
Warren County (6-1, 4-0) revived in the top of the seventh as Brantley got to first on a hit-by-pitch, followed by a left-field hit by Westen Wilson, a right-field hit by Braden Bottoms and another right-field hit by Wyatt Wilson where the Pioneers scored three more runs, leaving them three-runs shy as they went down swinging, 7-4.
Kason Holder pitched and got the loss with 5 runs, 3 hits and 5 strikeouts. Westen Wilson came in for middle relief giving up 2 runs, 2 hits and striking out 3 and Wyatt Wilson closed the game with 0 runs, 0 hits and no strikeouts. Christiana’s pitching had 10 strikeouts with only 2 BBs.
 The WCMS offense out-hit Christiana 11-to-5, but WCMS gave up 8 walks and had a couple of errors.  Hit leaders for the Pioneers were Brantley with 3 hits and 2 RBIs, Westen Wilson 3 hits, Wyatt Wilson 2 hits – including a double – and 1 RBI and Bottoms with 2 hits and 1 RBI.
 The Pioneers will play host to Tullahoma after spring break on Monday, March 27. Game time is 5 p.m.