By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
WCMS Pioneers fall short in Winchester
Placeholder Image

Thoughts of Kevin Dyson being tackled at the end of Super Bowl XXXIV probably entered Warren County Middle School football coach Donnie Harris’ head Tuesday night. Or maybe he was just too upset that his Pioneer fell short in Franklin County for the second straight week.
After seeing Franklin North score a game-winning touchdown in the final seconds last week, the Pioneers once again suffered a late setback as the team lost 14-8 on the road to Franklin South Tuesday.
Warren County (1-2) has seen some late flags prove to be costly in each game. Against Franklin South Tuesday night, the Pioneers had two late touchdowns by Noah Campbell negated on holding penalties, including one in the final seconds which would’ve tied the game. This week’s penalties came after the Pioneers seemingly put away Franklin North last week on a long gallop by Isaiah Grayson, only to see the yellow flag come out and bring the touchdown back.
The Pioneers still had a chance to knot the score at 14 against Franklin South Tuesday night, but quarterback Trayton Rackley was stopped just short on the final play.
Rackley put the Pioneers in position to tie the game with a 63-yard pass to Grayson in the final seconds after Franklin South took a late lead. Deep in Franklin South’s territory, Rackley handed off to Campbell on the next play and it looked like the tailback had crossed the goal line.
It didn’t matter if Campbell scored though as a holding call, the second one to negate a fourth-quarter touchdown run by the Pioneers, moved the ball back and left the Pioneers with one last chance to score.
Rackley scrambled on the final play, hoping to make something happen. The quarterback turned upfield, but was stopped by a gang of Franklin South defenders at the 5 as the clock expired.
Coach Harris believed a sluggish start by his team gave Franklin South momentum and, ultimately, the victory.
“We came out a little flat and they drove it down and scored early,” said Harris. “We’ve just got to go back to work and make sure we show up ready to play football every day we hit the field, be it practice or games.”
Franklin South opened the game with a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive. A 13-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion, gave the home team an 8-0 lead.
The score would stay the same until halftime as the Pioneers failed to score on their two first-half drives. It wasn’t until Warren County got the ball for the second time in the second half that the score would change.
The Pioneers mounted a six-play drive to tie the game as Campbell got going on the ground. Campbell had runs of 11 and 13 yards to move Warren County into its opponents’ territory before Rackley took to the air.
Rackley connected with Tristan Gunter for a 32-yard touchdown to make it 8-6. Campbell got the call on the two-point conversion and scored to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
The Pioneers got the ball right back when Douglas Nelson recovered a fumble at the Franklin South 20, but the Pioneers were denied a chance to take the lead when a Campbell touchdown run was brought back on a holding call. The Pioneers would fumble, setting up Franklin South’s go-ahead touchdown.
Franklin South stayed on the ground every play of the drive, eventually going 75 yards on nine plays to score with a minute to play. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the Pioneers trailing 14-6.
Rackley’s long pass to Grayson gave the Pioneers life, but it wasn’t enough as Warren County dropped to 1-2 overall.
The Pioneers will play their first home game of the season next Tuesday when Shelbyville Harris comes to town. Action at Nunley Stadium is set to start at 6:30 p.m.

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png

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.