Pioneers win big to wrap up Classic
Warren County’s baseball team closed out the 2004 Dr Pepper Wood Bat Classic on a high note Saturday night.
The Pioneers, who had already taken two losses on the first two days of the round-robin tournament, closed out an undefeated final day with a six-inning, 11-1 victory over Smith County’s Owls.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Joey Haston, who reached base in seven straight at-bats during the two Pioneer games Saturday, came through with the game-winning hit.
Haston connected off Owl reliever Chris Conner for a shot to left, driving home Jordan Underhill, who had led off the inning with a single of his own, then took second on a Tyler Herriman base hit and moved to third when Todd Dunn was hit by a pitch.
Things looked a bit shaky for the Pioneers in the early moments of Saturday night’s tournament finale, however.
Jared Qualls, normally the team’s closer, took the mound to start the game, and surrendered back-to-back singles to the Owls first two batters. Drew Moore then came through with an RBI groundout, giving Smith County an early lead.
Qualls settled down, however, fanning four of the next six owls he faced on his way to the victory. Overall, he worked four innings, allowing just one run and three hits while striking out five. Tyler Daniel came on in the fifth, walking the first man he faced before getting a line-drive out and recording two straight strikeouts.
Down 1-0, the Pioneers responded in a big way in the bottom of the second, plating five runs while sending 10 men to the plate.
Dylan Stephens led off with a walk, and was followed by Josh Bratcher, who singled to center field. Haston was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Zach Minton drew an RBI walk to tie the game. Jordan Powers drove in Bratcher with a grounder to the right side, and Nick Cantrell and Chase McGee followed with back-to-back RBI singles, scoring Haston and Minton, respectively.
Josh Bratcher was hit by a pitch to start the third inning, and took second on a balk. Haston walked, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Powers beat out an infield single to third, but the throw trying to retire him went wild, allowing Bratcher to score. McGee drove in his second run of the game, scoring Haston and making it a 6-1 Pioneer lead.
Herriman was hit by a pitch in the fourth, and Chase Basham — pinch-hitting for Bratcher — walked, setting the stage for Haston’s two-run single to right field. Haston came home himself when Cantrell slapped a single to left.
Haston, Herriman and Cantrell finished with two hits each, with Haston driving in three runs and Cantrell adding two. McGee had a pair of RBIs, while Herriman and Powers both drove in a run. Bratcher and Underhill had the Pioneers’ other two hits.
With the win, the Pioneers took fourth place in the Classic, and improved their overall record to 6-11. They’ll hit the field Thursday night, when they play host to Coffee County at 6:30.