Pioneers end season on down note

starting pitcher Derek Brumley reacts after surrendering Ross Davidson’s three-run homer in the first as Andrew Henson rounds the bases. The three-run shot was the first of four ATMS homers on the day ‘ three of which were hit by Davidson.

Facing Cookeville’s Avery Trace Middle in a Tuesday night doubleheader, the Pioneers came away on the losing end of both contests, dropping the opener 19-10 before losing the nightcap 5-4 in extra innings.

ATMS struck for three runs in the top of the first in Game 1, courtesy of a three-run homer by Ross Davidson, and pulled away for good in the second, plating six runs on four hits, including an Andrew Henson grand slam which was followed by Davidson’s second home run of the game.

Back-to-back singles opened the Raider third, and both Nathan Strong and Spencer Wise came home when Austin Gamble doubled to right, giving the visitors an 11-0 lead.

A sacrifice fly from Austin Green in the Pioneer half of the third brought home Nick Grandey with Warren County’s first run, and WCMS added three more in teh fourth against Raider reliever Patrick Mills, thanks to two errors, a hit batsman, a two-run double from Micah McColloch and an interference call which allowed Spencer Pryor to score after getting caught in a rundown between third and home.

Avery Trace put the finishing touches on their win in the top of the fifth, when after their first two batters were retired, the Raiders sent 11 more to the plate, scoring eight runs, including two on an Ethan Nehus single and two more on a double by Mills.

The Pioneers tried to mount a comeback, scoring six runs in the bottom of the frame including two on McColloch’s ground-rule double and two more on a Brett Mullican single, but it was too little and too late to overcome the Raiders’ lofty advantage.

Derek Brumley took the loss, pitching 4 2/3 innings before Connor Dixon came on to record the final out. The win went to Strong, who worked three innings before being relieved by Mills.

Following a ceremony recognizing the Pioneers’ eighth-graders and their parents, the two squads retook the field and WCMS built a 4-2 lead through four innings, only to see Avery Trace tie the game in the fifth and score the game-winning run in the top of the sixth.

A leadoff walk to Davidson started the extra inning, and the Raider slugger stole second and took third on a grounder before scoring on a squeeze bunt by Nehus.

Nelson Huckeby started the Pioneer half of the inning with a double, moving to third on a grounder by McColloch, but reliever Colby Oliphant fanned Collin Hutchings for the game’s final out, leaving Huckeby at third.

A single by starting pitcher Justin Ware began the Pioneer second, and Huckeby followed with a double down the left-field line, bringing in the game’s first run. A throwing error on a pickoff move allowed Huckeby to take third, and a second throw on the play went wide of its target, allowing him to score.

Mills walked and later scored on a Gamble sac fly in the ATMS third, and the Raiders added another run in the fourth when Davidson connected for his third homer of the day. The Pioneers countered with two of their own, as Austin Panter singled with one out and McColloch drew a walk. Both runners scored when a high fly ball to left was dropped by Gamble.

But ATMS came back in the fifth to tie the score once again, with Darian Tubbs singling with one out, moving from first to third on a bad pickoff move, then scoring when the retrieved ball was thrown into the Pioneer dugout. Gamble, who was hit by a pitch with two out in the frame, came in with the tying run on a hit by Henson, who was caught at second trying to advance on the throw.

The Pioneers, who lost to both Franklin North and Shelbyville in a pair of make-up games Wednesday night, begin play in the Central Tennessee Conference tournament next week.