Pioneers no-hit in season opener
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Pitching would be the deciding factor in the game as Joey Haston took the mound for Warren County and Bryan Morris took the ball for Tullahoma. Both pitchers put on an excellent performance but the story of the night was Morris. Morris walked the first Pioneer batter he faced but then retired 18 in a row to pick up the win and no-hitter.
“This isn’t the way you want to start the season but we ran into a tough pitcher tonight,” said coach J.W. Holt.
“It was a pitching duel and tonight Morris kept our hitters off balance. We battled tonight but we had several little mistakes that got us in trouble. Taking too long getting the ball to first and a couple of fly balls hurt us. Joey pitched a great game but he started to run out of gas going into the fifth. Overall, the kids kept fighting and hanging in there but Morris just had things going his way tonight. We have to put this game behind us and get ready for tomorrow.”
Haston fanned the first two batters for Tullahoma and got a ground ball for the final out in the top of the first.
Warren County started off on the right foot, with a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first by Tyler Herriman. Morris struck out Josh Bratcher for the first out and then got Chase McGee to ground back to the mound. Harriman was caught trying to make it to third for the final out of the inning.
In the top of the second Haston sat the Wildcats down in order with three pop flies. Dylan Stephens led off the bottom of the second but got caught looking as Morris recorded his second strikeout. The next two Pioneer batters grounded out to end the inning.
Haston had a solid third as he recorded two strikeouts to keep the game scoreless. Morris matched his counterpart as he fanned the next three Pioneer batters.
Tullahoma scored two runs in the top of the fourth on a pair of walks, a pass ball and a double by Tripp Hess. Morris continued to impress as he still faced the minimum after four innings of work.
In the sixth Tullahoma added three runs with the help of five hits to take a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. Haston recorded the first out but then was replaced by Jared Qualls. Haston worked five and a third innings, allowing four hits on 98 pitches, walked two and added eight strikeouts.
Zach Minton led off the bottom of the sixth with a fly ball to right and the next two Pioneer batters went down swinging.
Qualls faced three batters in the top of the seventh and recorded one strikeout. In the bottom of the seventh Josh Bratcher drew a walk with one out but Morris got the next two batters to pop out to preserve the win and the no-hitter.
Morris went the distance and faced 22 batters, walking two, while striking out nine on 99 pitches.
The Pioneers were scheduled to face Coffee County Tuesday on the road.