Lady Pioneers grab first two district W’s

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Emily Smith connects for one of her two hits during Thursday’s doubleheader against White County. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

Thursday night at Warren County High School, the Lady Pioneers picked up their first District 7-AAA wins of the season by sweeping White County in a doubleheader 7-1 and 5-3.

With the wins Warren County improved to 4-22 on the season and 2-8 in district play.

In the first game of the night Ashley McBee took the mound for Warren County. McBee went the distance, giving up nine hits, walking three and picking up five strikeouts while facing 35 batters.

The Lady Warriors scored their only run of the game in the top of the first, after the leadoff hitter walked then back-to-back hits from Kim Good and Sasha Howell put White County out in front 1-0.

White County’s Brittany Barker gave up hits to Shellie Hayes, Katie Rogers, MaCall Cooper, Penny Wanamaker, Laurie Hillis and Emily Smith in the second, as the Lady Pioneers sent three runs across the plate to take a 3-1 lead.

Warren County added three more runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth to secure the win.

For the Lady Pioneers, Racheal Flatt, Smith, Hillis, Cooper and Hayes picked up two hits each. Rogers, Penny Wanamaker added one hit each. Warren County collected 12 hits in the first game.

In the second game LeAnn Smith worked 51/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits while picking up four K’s. White County picked up two hits in the top of the first, but the Lady Pioneer infield got out of the inning unharmed.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Warren County put together hits from Wanamaker Mary Kate Fisher and Taylor Hennessee to load the bases. Courtney Abraham singled with two out, scoring two runs and giving Warren County a 2-0 lead. The Lady Pioneers added one more run in the third, when Katie Rogers singled and scored on a Fisher hit.

Already with a 3-0 lead, Warren County sent two runs across the plate in the bottom of the fifth. Katie Rogers singled and stole second, Nikki Poe singled and Fisher doubled to score two runs as the Lady Pioneers held a 5-0 lead.

White County worked its way back into the game in the top of the sixth, when Kim Good doubled and back-to-back errors set the stage for the Lady Warriors’ first run of the game. Savannah Hodge singled and Kayla Powell singled to make it a 5-3 game before Warren County got out of the inning.

McBee came in and worked the seventh to retire the side and secure Warren County’s sweep of the Lady Warriors.

Warren County picked up 10 hits, while holding White County to seven.