Coach Gooby Martin and his Warren County Middle School softball team have become used to the phrase rained out. If his team keeps playing as well as it did last weekend, undefeated may be the team’s newest catchphrase.
The Lady Pioneers ran their record to a perfect 3-0 over the weekend by defeating Avery Trace on the road Friday 8-2 in extra innings, then following it up with a 20-5 destruction of Franklin South Middle School at home.
Warren County hadn’t had a game in nearly two weeks when they finally got to travel Friday for a game. The Lady Pioneers needed six innings to shake off the rust of five consecutive rain-outs, but when it mattered most, Warren County was up to the task of defeating the home-standing Avery Trace team.
The Lady Pioneers scored one run each in the fourth and fifth innings to force extra innings, then exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away.
Coach Martin got the rally going with one of the most exciting plays in softball. With a runner on third and Bailey Martin at the plate, coach Martin called for a suicide squeeze.
Martin was able to get the bunt down, and Bailey Walker slid in safely at home, giving the Lady Pioneers a small lead. A triple by Liza Harvey, followed by a double from Livia Walker, left little doubt Warren County would leave the field with its second win.
Sarah Knowles was able to shut down Avery Trace in the final inning, finishing a complete game for the eighth-grader. Knowles had five strikeouts and gave up two runs and two hits.
Harvey led Warren County with two hits and three RBIs, while Martin and Livia Walker added two hits apiece.
The Lady Pioneers kept their momentum going when they took the field against Franklin South at Warren County High School. Warren County used a 13-run third inning to put away its Central Tennessee Conference foe.
Franklin South jumped out to 3-0 lead in the top of the first, as Lady Pioneer pitcher Lindsey Cox struggled with her control. Three walks helped the visitors gain an advantage, but it would be short lived.
Abby Hutchins had a two-out single in the bottom of the first to score two runs, bringing Warren County within one. The Lady Pioneers would knot the score at three in the second inning, putting the pressure on Franklin South.
Franklin South responded with two runs in the top of the third, but it would be the last runs Cox would surrender as she picked up the win by going all five innings and scattering five hits and striking out six.
Warren County’s bats came alive in the bottom of the third. The Lady Pioneers threw a hit parade, as Harvey, Livia Walker, Madison Mason, Mya Denning, Keely Jacobs and Bailey Walker all connected for base hits. Harvey was especially impressive, as she connected on two RBI doubles.
Walks and aggressive base running also benefited the Lady Pioneers, as the game was all but over when Warren County took a 16-5 lead into the fourth.
The Lady Pioneers closed out the victory with four more runs in the fourth, giving the team a 3-0 start to the season.
Coach Martin was extremely proud of his team, which he feels is getting better by the game.
“I think they are really playing hard and competing. We are getting better every time we take the field,” said Martin. “We are doing the little things right so far like bunting, making most of our routine plays defensively and the pitchers are throwing strikes.”
Warren County put its undefeated mark on the line last night when the team traveled to Coffee County for a contest against the Lady Raiders. Results from the game were unavailable at press time.
The Lady Pioneers return home tomorrow night when they play host to Franklin North Middle School. The game, which will be held at Warren County High School softball field, will begin at 5 p.m.
WCMS softball still undefeated
