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WCMS soccer still unbeaten
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What was expected to be a battle between two heavyweights turned into another dominating win for the Warren County Middle School soccer team Monday night.
Undefeated Tullahoma came to McMinnville with swagger, but left feeling like a punching bag, after the Pioneers put a 7-2 hurting on the Wildcats.
The victory keeps WCMS undefeated and atop the conference standings in what’s the last week of the regular season. The Pioneers travel to Franklin North on Thursday before ending the regular season in Tullahoma on Friday.
Any hopes the Wildcats had of playing a competitive game were dashed shortly after the opening whistle Monday night. The Pioneers scored twice in the first three minutes and were never seriously challenged.
The Pioneers were the quicker team and used their explosiveness to outrace Tullahoma to the ball and score a number of breakaway goals.
“I am proud to coach this team,” said WCMS coach Matt Jackson. “They play together and work hard. Our speed is amazing but it is also great to see how well they understand the game.”
The victory on Eighth Grade Night shows this group of WCMS eighth-graders is poised to contend for the Pioneers’ third straight conference championship.
Pioneer Alex Pullon had his best game of the year with one goal and two assists. His hard-nosed play was crucial in setting the tone early.
Adrian Tejas added two goals, while William Fernandez, Jalen Haston, Ben Clark, and defensive star Joshua Macanas added one goal each.
Pullon made a statement early by using his blazing speed to get behind the Tullahoma defense. He fired a hard shot that was deflected by the goalie but stayed in the field of play. Tejas was there to finish things off for a 1-0 Pioneer lead.
It was almost like watching instant replay just a minute later when Pullon again blew past Wildcat defenders to fire a shot. The goalie was again able to make a stop but couldn’t control the ball and Tejas swooped in for a 2-0 lead.
Haston soon made it a 3-0 Pioneer lead. He blistered a shot that was so hard it bounced off the goalie, then hit a Tullahoma player and still had enough momentum to ricochet into the goal.
One of the few Tullahoma highlights came when the Pioneers were called for a handball just outside the box. The Wildcats were awarded a free kick and made the shot to cut the score to 3-1.
But that score was answered by more fast-break WCMS offense to end the first half as William Fernandez electrified the crowd when he chased down a long pass and drilled a shot past the goalie to make it 4-1 at the break.
Ben Clark got the Pioneers on the board to start the second half when he muscled his way past a defender on his way to the net. The goalie came charging out in an effort to deflect the shot, but Clark sent the ball whizzing past him into the corner of the net, 5-1.
After that, Pullon was again on the attack as he had too much speed for a defender who was right on his hip. Pullon gained just enough separation to launch a shot that slipped past the diving keeper into the near corner of the goal.
Macanas applied the finishing touches with a spectacular goal on a night filled with Pioneer highlights. Macanas dribbled through the teeth of the Tullahoma defense and had only the goalie to beat. When the goalie charged, Macanas stopped and blooped a shot over his head that sailed into the net for the 7-2 final score.

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.