WCHS still seeking first win of season

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

A wild throw gets away from Pioneer second baseman Nick Cantrell and hits the Coffee County runner in the bottom of the second inning. The error cost Warren County a run as a Coffee County player scored from third. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

Looking for their first win of the 2004 season, the Pioneer baseball team entered Wednesday’s game against Coffee County with a 0-2 record. The good news was Warren County’s bats heated up, but the bad news was that the Pioneers left nine men on base as they fell to Coffee County 4-2.

Landon Boren took the mound for Warren County working five innings giving up four hits and four runs.

Tyler Herriman started things off in the top of the first with a double to right-center but was tagged out trying to make it to third as the next two batters went down in order. Boren and the Pioneer defense put Coffee County down in order in the bottom of the first.

The Pioneers drew first blood in the second with two outs. Zack Minton singled after Jacob Bratcher reached on a fielder’s-choice. Todd Gilley singled to bring home Bratcher to give Warren County a 1-0 lead.

The Raiders took the lead in the bottom of the second after their lead-off batter reached on an error and a bunt moved him to second. A walk put runners at first and second with one out. Boren struck out the next batter. Nathan Buckner singled to tie the game at 1-1, but a wild throw at second for the force sent a runner home to put Coffee County on top 2-1. Boren got the next batter to pop up to end the inning.

The Pioneers had their chance to take the lead in the top of the third after a lead-off walk and a base hit by Chase McGee. Joey Haston walked to load the bases with two outs but the Pioneer batter popped to third to end the inning. Boren put Coffee County down in order in the bottom of the third.

Warren County tied the game in the fourth with a single from Todd Gilley, a walk and a single by Tyler Herriman that scored Gilley with one out. Jacob Bratcher tried to move the runners over with a bunt but Herriman was called for interference sliding into second as the inning ended tied at 2-2. A walk and error at second put the Raiders up 3-2 going into the top of the fifth.

With one out, Dylan Stephens singled to center. Haston then drew a walk. A wild pitch moved Stephens to third where he was left stranded as the next two Pioneer batters flied out. A solo shot by Adam Clark with one out gave Coffee County a 4-2 lead after five innings of play.

Both teams went down in order in the sixth. In the top of the seventh, McGee roped a shot to right center and ended up on third with one out. But the Pioneers left him stranded as the next two batters went down.

The Pioneers picked up eight hits, left nine men on and committed three errors. Boren worked five innings giving up four hits and four runs. For Coffee County, Webster gave up eight hits and four walks.

The Pioneers dropped their game against Franklin County on the road Tuesday falling 5-2. The Pioneers will be on the road Saturday at Crossville with game time set for 2:30 p.m.