Gilley’s homer lifts WCHS to win
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Taking on White County in a rescheduled District 7-AAA contest, Warren County put up three runs in the bottom of the first, then used some timely defensive plays and strong pitching to make the lead hold up and take a 4-1 victory over the Warriors.
With the win, Warren County improved to 15-11 overall and 6-5 in district play. The victory and Blackman’s loss to Lebanon put the Pioneers in sole possession of third place in the league standings. Cookeville, which swept the Pioneers 9-7 and 12-2 over their series last weekend, leads the district with a perfect 11-0 record, while Riverdale is in second at 10-1.
Tyler Herriman got things going in the first for WCHS, reaching on a one-out error and scoring when Colby Killian drove a double to deep center field.
Todd Gilley then followed with what would prove to be the killing blow, blasting a two-run homer to right-center to put the Pioneers on top 3-0. The homer, which gave Gilley 11 RBIs on the season, was the first round-tripper by a Warren County batter this season.
White County attempted a rally in the fourth, connecting off Killian for three straight hits to start the inning. But a lightning throw from catcher Jacob Bratcher to second picked off leadoff man Kyle Hicks for the first out of the inning.
A pop fly to first put the Pioneers one out from escaping the inning unscathed, but Killian walked Caleb Arnold to load the bases, and No. 9 hitter Kyle Price singled to right, scoring Blake Rice.
WCHS avoided any further damage, however, when right fielder Jordan Underhill fired the ball back to the infield, and Dylan Stephens relayed the throw to third, resulting in a rundown which ended when Bratcher threw out Drew Haston at third on a wild “9-3-5-2-5” play which ended the inning.
The Pioneers plated their final run in the sixth, when Josh Bratcher and Underhill connected for back-to-back singles. Underhill stole second, and Warrior catcher Hicks’ throw went into center field, allowing Bratcher to come home. Coty Grissom reached on a dropped third strike, and Jordan Powers walked to load the bases, but the Warriors got out of the jam with a popup to pitcher J.J. Taylor and two straight strikeouts.
Price’s single was the final hit allowed by Killian, who went the distance and improved his personal record to 5-0. The junior issued four walks and gave up four hits while striking out seven Warriors.
Taylor took the loss for White County, dropping to 1-5 despite a 10-strikeout night. He allowed seven hits and walked three batters.
Underhill had the only multi-hit night for the Pioneers, who stranded eight men on base in the game. He finished 2-for-3 with a stolen base, while Jacob Bratcher, Killian, Gilley, Josh Bratcher and Grissom had the team’s other base hits.
The Pioneers and Warriors were scheduled to wrap up their series Thursday night in Sparta.
District 7-AAA Baseball
At A Glance
Team REC PCT GB
Cookeville 11-0 1.000 –
Riverdale 10-1 .909
Warren Co. 6-5 .545 5
Blackman 5-6 .455 6
Oakland 4-7 .364 7
Lebanon 4-7 .364 7
Siegel 2-9 .182 9
White Co. 2-9 .182 9
This Week’s Games:
Monday’s Scores
Siegel 13, White Co. 6
Cumberland Co. 6, Cookeville 5 (8)
Shelbyville 6 at Lebanon 4
Clarksville 6 at Riverdale 2
Tuesday’s Games
White Co. at Warren Co., PPD, Rain
Oakland at Beech, PPD, Rain
Tullahoma at Siegel, PPD, Rain
Wednesday’s Scores
Riverdale 9, Oakland 7
Cookeville 5, Siegel 2
Lebanon 5, Blackman 3
Warren Co. 4, White Co. 1
Thursday’s Games
Warren Co. at White Co
Cookeville at Siegel
Oakland at Riverdale
Blackman at Lebanon