The WCHS Lady Pioneers continue to battle for a seat in the state tournament after beating Rhea County on Monday, 6-2, in the first round of the region tournament.

WC will now face Coffee County once again Wednesday night at home – this time for the region championship. Game time is 6 p.m.

Coffee County beat Walker Valley on Monday, and both WC and CC have earned a spot in the regional finals and qualify for sectionals, which is one step from the eight-team state tournament. Warren County softball has never qualified for the state. The Lady Pioneers made sectionals in 2019 when this year’s seniors were freshmen.

On Monday night, the Lady Pioneers tore up the baselines and blasted Rhea County with 6 runs on 7 hits, scoring one run in each of the first 3 innings.

WC’s stellar defense kept the Lady Pioneers alive along with Madison Hollis who pitched another masterful performance with 4 strikeouts and 0 walks.

Alyssa Mosley and Callie Roberts both led the team going 2 for 2 at the plate. Mosley also scored 3 runs, and Roberts collected 3 RBIs.

WC stayed consistent scoring one run in each of the first 3 innings and not allowing Rhea to score at all. Mosley earned the first RBI in the bottom of the first with a single to hit Jazzlyn Ward home.

Ky Damon went 1 for 1 at the plate and scored a run in the bottom of the second after a nice double was ripped by Hollis.

In the bottom of the fourth, Warren County kept the momentum with Roberts hitting both Mosley and Aleya Esparza home with a double to centerfield. The Lady Pioneers kept Rhea County from scoring for five innings thanks to many ground outs to first baseman Kora Forbes.

Though Rhea County got one run in the top of the sixth, WC matched that with a run in the bottom of the inning thanks to Roberts hitting Mosley home once again with another double. Rhea County was able to score a second run in the seventh, but Hollis made it a tough inning for them.

She caught a pop fly for the first out, struck out the second out, and made a ground out to first to end the game 6-2. WC will now host another championship tonight against their district rivals Coffee County.

Both District 6 teams knocked out their District 5 opponents and will both compete in the sectionals on Friday to qualify for state.