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WCMS thumps Franklin South
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Eli Buchanon, shown during a previous game, got on the board Tuesday night.

The WCMS Pioneers disposed of the Franklin South Trojans on Tuesday night, 56-23. The Trojan offense stumbled out of the gate and remained stagnate throughout the game.
Pioneer Micah Webster had little resistance versus the Trojan defense and he led all scorers with a game-high 16 points. He collected his 16 points in just three quarters and that allowed him to rest in the fourth.
WCMS hit the court with a win in its sights. Jerry Mrema sliced his way through the Trojan defense and picked up his first four points of the game. Ace marksman Eli Jones was right on target with two 3-pointers that hit their mark in the opening period for the Pioneers.
The ball was fed inside to Webster in the post where he banged in the paint and delivered seven of his 16 points. He earned a free-throw attempt and made good on the and-1 attempt.
The Trojan offense attempted to stay on the pace, but struggled with the tenacious Pioneer defense. The WCMS defense created confusion in the backcourt which led to several missed opportunities for Franklin South.
Five of the nine points scored by the Trojan offense were made from the free-throw line. Dylan Grimes was a perfect 3-for-3 and Dalton McHaffey shot 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. At the end of one, WCMS led 17-9.
The Pioneer offense kept the tempo in its favor and the continued to push the ball inside to Webster and picked up another pair of baskets in the paint. Carter Mansfield entered the game and immediately went to work. Mansfield delivered a deep 3-pointer when left open and then picked up two free throws after a drive to the basket left him at the free-throw line.
Franklin South maintained its pace on offense and Isaiah Sisk slipped past the defense and scored just outside the paint. WCMS held them on many attempts down the floor and after two aggressive quarters, WCMS led 27-16 at the half.
The Pioneer defense stifled the Trojan offense to start the second half. Jacob Lann got it done from inside the 3-point line and behind it. He opened up his arsenal and dropped in five points over the Trojan defense. Mrema, Mansfield, and Webster added points to help extend the Pioneer lead.
Sisk for Franklin South connected on the only 3-point shot of the third quarter. In fact it was the only shot that fell for the Trojans in the period. After three complete, WCMS led 44-19.
Brady Gross and Dante Elam got it done in the final six minutes for WCMS. They combined for 10 of the final 12 points scored by the Pioneers. Mrema added his final two points after he found an open spot on the floor and fired.
Franklin South was out of momentum and the tank was empty. The Trojans stalled out in the second half and the Pioneers defeated the Trojans, 56-23. WCMS played DeKalb County on Thursday night with results not available at press time.
PIONEER SCORING – Micah Webster 16, Carter Mansfield 9, Jerry Mrema 9, Dante Elam 7, Eli Jones 6, Jacob Lann 5, Brady Gross 3, Eli Buchanan 1
TROJAN SCORING – Dylan Grimes 10, Isaiah Sisk 5, Dalton McHaffey 4, Amare Perkins 2, Malachi Millraney 2

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.