Cavs clip WCHS in 8 innings

A return to District 7-AAA action saw the end of the Pioneer baseball team?s six-game winning streak Wednesday night.

Traveling to face Cookeville for the first game of a two-day series, Warren County went to extra innings for the second straight contest, falling to the Cavaliers 3-2 in eight frames.

The eight-inning affair came just two days after a 12-inning marathon in Manchester, which the Pioneers won by a 10-9 final.

Judah Akers came through with Wednesday?s game-winning hit for Cookeville, which improved to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in league play, delivering an RBI single off reliever Josh Mullins to score pinch-runner Trea Studdard.

Studdard had come on to run for Cookeville catcher Brandon Crossman, who singled earlier in the inning. Crossman?s hit to left would have been the game-winner, but the throw in from Jordan Powers was on the mark, and cut down Gary Lamb ? who led off the frame with a walk ? at the plate.

With Studdard on first, Bo Reeder hit a grounder deep into the hole at second base, allowing the runner to advance, and a single from Michael Cox put the game-winning run at third, and also chased Pioneer starter Derrin Rogers from the hill in favor of Mullins.

The Pioneers (10-9, 1-4 district) took an early lead in Wednesday?s game thanks to back-to-back two-out hits from Coty Grissom and Nick Cantrell, who singled home Jacob Bratcher and Clint Newman, respectively. Bratcher had reached on a fielder?s choice, while Newman struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch.

Cookeville promptly answered in the bottom of the inning, however. Akers doubled to score Reeder, who had led off the second with a double of his own. Akers later took third on a passed ball, putting him in position to score on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Sarr, tying the game at 2-2.

The Pioneers and Cavaliers were scheduled to play the second game of their series Thursday night at Ramsey Field. WCHS will participate in a tournament at Rhea County today and Saturday.