Wildcats play long ball in win over WCHS
After falling behind early, Warren County pulled itself right back into Friday night’s game against Tullahoma, only to have their rally chance shattered with a six-run Wildcat fifth.
Former Warren Countian Bryan Morris belted two homers, including a laser-shot in the sixth that highlighted a big inning, as Tullahoma downed the Pioneers for the second time this year, winning 14-8.
With the loss, WCHS fell to 13-6, while Tullahoma — which was ranked No. 10 in class AAA in the most recent Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association poll — improved to 16-4.
Morris and former Pioneer Tommy Jones provided the big blows in Friday’s first inning, connecting for a two-run homer and a two-run double, respectively, against WCHS starter Tyler Daniel. Jack Casteel added an RBI-single, and the Wildcats led 5-0 by the end of the first.
Todd Gilley drove in Tyler Herriman as the Pioneers connected for three straight singles in the bottom of the frame, and WCHS added another run in the third on a Gilley sac fly, which also scored Herriman.
After giving up another run to Tullahoma in the fourth, the Pioneers pulled within one with a three-run bottom of the inning.
Jordan Powers reached on a fielder’s choice with one out, and Jacob Bratcher and Herriman followed with back-to-back walks, loading the bases. Colby Killian then singled home Powers, and Gilley drew a walk for his third RBI of the game to plate Bratcher. Herriman later scored on a wild pitch, trimming the Tullahoma lead to 6-5.
Jones, brought on in relief of THS starter Rob Curley, got out of the inning without any further damage, and the Wildcats teed off on Pioneer reliever Jordan Underhill in the top of the fifth.
Ben Walker led off the fifth with a solo homer to right, and was followed by a single from Jacob Haywood, who scored on a base hit from Chris Bond.
Morris worked his way ahead in the count against Underhill, and was green-lighted for the 3-0 offering, slamming a line-drive over the right-field fence to make it a 10-5 game.
Ben Darlington doubled, and John Shelton drew a walk, chasing Underhill from the mound in favor of Dylan Stephens. But a two-out blooper from Casteel dropped in no-man’s land in shallow right, allowing two more runs to score.
The Pioneers added three in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single from Underhill and an RBI grounder from Josh Bratcher, but Tullahoma put the game away in the top of the seventh on a Casteel two-run single. John Greenwood, who came on in relief of Jones in the sixth, faced the minimum in the bottom of the seventh, as Jacob Bratcher singled but was caught stealing, then Herriman fanned and Killian flied out to center field.
Killian finished with three hits on the day, while Herriman, Underhill and Josh Bratcher had two each. Gilley went 1-for-1 with a sac fly, two walks, and three RBIs.
Daniel worked four innings, taking the loss while allowing eight hits, four walks, and striking out six batters. Underhilll, Stephens and Coty Grissom all pitched in relief, with Stephens fanning five of the eight batters he faced.