La Vergne rallies to top WCHS

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Warren County’s Joshua Bratcher scrambles back to first to avoid a pickoff attempt during Friday’s game against Lincoln County. (Rob Nunley photo)

A game-tying single was followed up by a game-losing error Saturday, as the Pioneer baseball team let a lead slip away in the seventh on the way to an 8-6 loss to La Vergne.

With two out in the seventh and Warren County (3-7) clinging to a 6-4 lead, the Wolverines’ Derik Hulsey singled to right field, driving home Zach Dean and Ryan O’Neal to tie the score at 6-6.

But a throwing error to third base, where the Pioneers were attempting to gun down Cameron White, instead allowed White to score the go-ahead run for LHS, completing a five-run frame for the victorious Wolverines. The Pioneers were retired without a run in the bottom of the inning, despite a leadoff double from Steven Ehrhardt.

La Vergne struck first in Saturday’s contest, which marked the Pioneers’ 10th game over a 12-day stretch.

John Allen singled with out in the first, and came home on an error at second base. The Wolverines added two more runs in the third, thanks to a dropped fly ball in left field and an RBI fielder’s choice from O’Neal.

Warren County got rid of its goose-egg in the bottom of the second, when Ehrhardt reached on an error and scored on an RBI double from Nick Cantrell. The Pioneers scratched out another run in the third, on a Zach Minton sacrifice fly which scored Tyler Herriman.

In the fourth the Pioneers took command, however briefly. With one out in the inning, Chase McGee drew a walk, stole second, and moved to third on a fielder’s choice from Jacob Bratcher. Herriman drove McGee in with a single, and scored himself on a single from Colby Killian. Dylan Stephens and Killian came home on a two-run double to left from Minton to put the Pioneers on top 6-3.

The Wolverines got to the Pioneer bullpen, however, striking for their seventh-inning runs against Jared Qualls and Joey Haston, who came on in place of starter Todd Gilley.

John Allen got the rally started with a leadoff single, and Dean followed with another hit. O’Neal singled to right, loading the bases, and White was hit by a pitch, driving in Allen and setting the stage for Hulsey’s two-run shot.

The Pioneers finished with 12 hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 effort from Stephens and a pair of hits from Jacob Bratcher.

The Pioneers were slated to be in action Tuesday at Riverdale, and will play host to the Warriors tonight, beginning at 6:30 at the Patrick Ramsey Field.