Senior Night shutout-WCHS blows out Panthers
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Taking on Crossville’s Stone Memorial in their Senior Night game, Warren County posted nine runs in the bottom of the fourth, and cruised to a run-rule shortened 10-0 victory to close their 2008 campaign.
District tournament play begins for the Pioneers today, as they will take on the Siegel Stars at Murfreesboro’s Oakland High School, beginning at 4 p.m.
Justin Bouldin put the finishing touches on Tuesday’s rout, belting a three-run homer with two out in the fourth. His blast highlighted a 13-batter, eight-hit frame which saw the Pioneers turn a narrow 1-0 advantage into a 10-run blowout.
Clint Newman got the fourth started with a single up the middle, and moved to third when Bouldin doubled to center field. After a Kyle Mullican grounder, pitcher Andy Southard came through with a two-run single, and moved to second on a throw home.
Darrid Wells followed with a single to right, taking second on a throw which was too late to retire Southard at third, and Josh Mullins ‘ inserted into the starting lineup in right field to allow all nine WCHS seniors to start the game ‘ drew a walk to load the bases.
Zack Fisher brought home Southard with a sacrifice fly to center, and Lane McCoy singled to left, plating Wells. Casey Talbert drew a walk, and Newman doubled to right, bringing in both Mullins and McCoy before Bouldin’s three-run bomb to center field. The homer was Bouldin’s first of the year, and brought home his 25th, 26th and 27th RBIs.
Southard quickly recorded two outs in the top of the fifth on ground balls to Wells at third, but allowed two straight singles before Stone’s Justin Patton hit a hard liner to second which was caught by a diving Talbert to end the game.
The Pioneers’ first run came in the third, when Fisher reached on an error after bunting the ball to the Panther pitcher. The WCHS shortstop stole second base, putting himself in position to score on a McCoy single to center field.
Southard earned the win on the hill for WCHS, scattering four hits over five innings and balancing two walks against four strikeouts. The loss went to Patton, who pitched 3 1/3 innings, giving up six runs on six hits and two walks before being relieved by Devin Pennington.
Newman finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, with two singles and a double, while Bouldin had a pair of hits and McCoy continued his hot streak, going 2-for-3. Wells, Southard and Kyle Mullican had the Pioneers’ other three hits.
Should the Pioneers (5-9 district, 11-20 overall) defeat the third-seeded Stars today, they will take on the winner of tonight’s Lebanon-Oakland game Saturday at 2:30. If they are beaten by the Stars, WCHS will face the loser of the game between the Patriots and Blue Devils Saturday at noon.