WCMS sweeps twin bill:Pioneers rough up Shelbyville twice

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Warren County’s Josh Moore slaps a grounder during the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against Shelbyville. The Pioneers won the opener 13-2, and completed the sweep with an 8-0 win.

Warren County Middle School captured a pair of lopsided victories Thursday night, sweeping a twin bill against Shelbyville at Patrick Ramsey Field.

In Thursday’s opener, the Pioneers had no trouble securing a solid win over their guests, as they needed just six innings to take a 13-2 victory.

WCMS posted a pair of runs in the first. Chase Basham led off the frame with a walk, and scored on a Casey Talbert single. Derrin Rogers then singled, and came around on a hit by Nick Williams.

Casey Talbert and Todd Dunn scored on a two-run single from Williams in the third, and the Pioneers plated four more runs in the fourth as Justin Bouldin, Justin Fults, Basham and Levi Bain all came around.

Josh Moore, Kyle Mullican and Fults all crossed the plate in the fifth, as the Pioneers plated four runs on a hit and three Shelbyville errors. Fults was hit by a pitch and scored in the fifth, and both Basham and Talbert came around after reaching on errors.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bouldin reached on an error, stole second and scored on a Talbert RBI grounder. Fults also reached on an error, and scored on a wild pitch for the team’s final run.

Rogers worked the first five innings of Game 1, allowing both Shelbyville runs while scattering four hits over five innings. He walked two batters and struck out five. Andy Southard came on in relief to work the final inning.

Thursday’s second game didn’t see as much offensive production, but the Pioneers once again kept in control from the start on the way to an 8-0 win.

Bain got things started in the first, reaching on a walk and scoring on a passed ball. An RBI double from starting pitcher Dunn plated Casey Talbert with Warren County’s second run, and a four-run fourth put Shelbyville away for good.

Basham was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and scored on a wild pitch. Dunn walked, and pinch runner Lane McCoy scored on a Rogers double. Rogers came around on Justin Bouldin’s single, and Bouldin scored on a wild pitch to put WCMS up 6-0.

The bottom of the fifth saw the Pioneers add two more runs, as Nick Williams singled, moved around to third and stole home. Bain was hit by a pitch with one out, and scored on Talbert’s sacrifice fly.

Dunn worked 4-1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and fanning six batters before giving way to Bain, who fanned the only batter he faced, and Bouldin, who shut down Shelbyville in the game’s final inning.

The Pioneers will play host to the Tennessee Middle School Baseball State Invitational Tournament this week, beginning Wednesday night.