By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
WCMS Pioneers prepare to kick off soccer season
Placeholder Image

Soccer season is upcoming, which means the Warren County Middle School boys are gearing up for another run at the Central Tennessee Conference title.
Coach Matt Jackson is hoping to lead his Pioneer team to the championship this season as the Warren County boys have been so close in the past three years.
With a number of talented players returning, Warren County has a good chance to make a splash in the standings.
Though Warren County is looking forward to the start of the season, added excitement around the program stems from the team changing venues.
After years of playing their home games at Pistole Park, the Pioneers will be calling Nunley Stadium their new home.
Warren County will play its six home games on the football field, a venue that will allow the Pioneers to play a more open and free-flowing game.
The new, larger field, along with a team full of scorers, has prompted coach Jackson to change his team’s alignment.
Last season, the Pioneers played a 4-3-3 alignment, allowing three forwards to do a lot of the scoring while keeping four defenders back at all times.
This year, coach Jackson wants to employ a 4-2-3-1, which means the Pioneers will have a focal point of the offense at the top while continuing to hold four members back for defensive purposes.
Coach Jackson explained why the difference should help the offense and defense.
“This look allows us to keep a strong defense, but also makes us move up to attack as one unit,” said Jackson. “Our midfielders, who have a tendency to push up and have to sprint to get back, can move up as we advance the ball.
“They’ll add extra support on offense and we’ll be focusing a lot more on making good passes this year.”
Warren County is strong at the top of its offense and in the back of its defense and one player is involved with both.
Eighth-grader Evan Reynolds returns as the Pioneers’ keeper, but coach Jackson doesn’t want to limit one of his most athletic players to staying in the net.
Reynolds could rotate at the striker position with Jacob Morin and John Haley to be one of the Pioneers’ top offensive threats as well.
Adding to the Pioneer depth are new additions Nathan Barnes and James Jackson. Barnes is an eighth-grade transfer student from Cookeville who has had success playing will premier teams in the summer.
Jackson is a sixth-grader who already possesses the speed and stamina necessary to contribute to the varsity team.
Morin steps up to varsity after leading the junior varsity team in scoring as a sixth-grader last season.
Seventh-grader Zach Murray will be headlining the back four on defense.
Warren County already had one opportunity to test out its new alignment against one of the best teams the state has to offer.
The Pioneers dropped a 1-0 decision against McCallie Middle School, but the result could’ve been even if not for a missed call.
Reynolds had a breakaway opportunity, but was pulled on the arm by a defender. Reynolds shook off the foul and blasted a shot into the back of the net.
Instead of leaving the play as it stands because Reynolds held the advantage, the referee whistled the foul and erased the goal.
Though the Pioneers lost, coach Jackson was pleased his team played so well against a powerhouse middle school program.
The Pioneers will get another look at another top team Friday when Warren County travels to Murfreesboro to take on Blackman in a friendly competition.
The regular season begins next Thursday, March 15, with a home contest against Webb School. Webb features Mitch Owens, a former Pioneer who transferred last summer.
The game will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Nunley Stadium.

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.