By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
WCMS wins big
Pioneers coast past Trojans
pioeer-brady-grossWEB
Brady Gross explodes to the rim and avoids contact from the Trojan defender to start the highly charged second quarter for WCMS. The Pioneers dominated the Trojans on both ends of the floor.

In just the second regular-season game, WCMS went on the road Monday night and dominated both ends of the court during its convincing 48-14 win over the Trojans from Franklin County South.
The Trojans kept it close a little over halfway through the first period and then the Pioneer defense took over the game.
The Pioneers allowed the Trojans to score nine points in the first quarter and five in the third. The Trojan offense was fit to be tied in the second and fourth quarters as they were held scoreless.
WCMS was led by Micah Webster, who towered over the Trojan defenders and pounded the Trojan defense time after time. Webster led all scorers with 19 points. He also shot 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
The Trojans were able to stay within reach during much of the opening period. WCMS tried to push the tempo and the Trojans did not want any part of it. Halfway through the first, the Trojans could not avoid it any longer and they succumbed to the Pioneer run game.
The Pioneer defense was quick on its feet and Christian Espinoza forced the Trojan offense into multiple turnovers. If it was not Espinoza, Jerry Mrema was all over the Trojan guards and he created havoc for the Trojan offense. WCMS applied constant pressure that crippled the Trojans.
Despite a constant double-team in the post, Webster and Espinoza led the Pioneers in scoring during the first period and combined for nine of the 13 first-quarter points.
For the Trojans, Malachi Perkins accounted for six of the nine points by Franklin County. Dylan Schultz connect on a rare open look from behind the 3-point line.
Things went from bad to worse in the second for the Trojans. WCMS closed off every lane to the basket and forced the Trojans to shoot from way outside. Shot after shot from long distance was off target and the Pioneer defense cleaned the glass and got the ball headed back the other direction.
Webster added seven more points to his first-quarter total. Eli Jones and Brady Gross added a pair of buckets just before the break. At the half, WCMS led 28-9 and the Trojans looked stunned.
After the break, WCMS picked up right where it left off. The Pioneer defense blanketed the court and it seemed every angle was covered. The Trojan offense settled for a shot from behind the 3-point line and Schultz connected on his second deep shot of the game.
WCMS played its best quarter after the halftime break. Wide open sharp-shooter Eli Jones stepped back and buried back-to-back 3-pointers. Webster continued his assault deep inside the post for the Pioneers. He dropped in his final six points in the highly charged third period. Eli Buchanan broke free and attacked the Trojan defense for his first four points of the game.
The Pioneers extended their already large lead to 45-14 by the end of the third.
WCMS dominated the fourth and the Trojans were held scoreless for the second time during the game. It was all Pioneer defense in the closing period. Brady Gross and Buchanan provided the offense down the stretch.
The Pioneers will play their first home game of the season Thursday, Nov. 12 with the girls varsity game set for 6 p.m. and the boys varsity game to follow.
PIONEER SCORING – Micah Webster 19, Eli Jones 8, Eli Buchanan 5, Carter Mansfield 5, Christian Espinoza 5, Brady Gross 4, Jacob Lann 2
TROJAN SCORING – Malachi Perkins 6, Dylan Schultz 6, Dylan Grimes 2

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.