Pioneers pluck Eagles in Dr Pepper Classic
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But if the Pioneers were only able to play one game in their annual event, they made sure it ended on a high note Friday, downing Rhea County by a 7-4 final.
Thursday?s opening day of the Classic had to be rescheduled so the Pioneers could make up their District 7-AAA game with Blackman, and rain on Saturday washed out all of the day?s scheduled action.
Weather permitting, WCHS will have a twin bill at Ramsey Field today, taking on Sequatchie County at 3 p.m. and Coffee County at 4:30.
But on Friday afternoon, the weather cooperated long enough for the Pioneers to square off against the Eagles from RCHS, and with a big crowd of Hickory Creek students cheering them on, the home squad captured an early lead, starting in the first inning when Lane McCoy reached on an error and later scored when Clint Newman?s grounder to second was thrown away.
Derrin Rogers, who finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, plated Kyle Mullican with a third-inning single, then came home from third on a wild pitch to put WCHS on top 3-0. Rogers struck again in the fourth, belting a two-out single up the middle to plate McCoy and Mullican.
Rhea County broke up Pioneer pitcher Andy Southard?s shutout in the fifth, when R.T. Fuller walked and scored on an error. Jacob Moffett and Seth Zimmerman added RBI singles, as the Eagles cut the Pioneer lead to 5-3.
Warren County answered with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, with Talbert driving home Mullican with a single to left and Rogers scoring on a fielder?s choice from Justin Bouldin after drawing a one-out walk. Although the Eagles? scored again on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the seventh, Southard fanned Zimmerman and got Tyler Latham to pop up to center to end the game and earn the victory on the hill.
Southard gave up three hits after pitching 4-2/3 innings of no-hit ball. He walked five, hit one batter and struck out 10. Two of the Eagles? four runs were earned.
The loss went to Rhea County?s Josh Davis, who pitched the first four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits, two walks and two hit batsmen.
The Pioneers will take on White County Monday and Tuesday, with the first game of the series to be played in Sparta and the finale played at Ramsey Field. Game time for both games is 6 p.m.