Warriors Fall 5-4, Swept by Stone Memorial

The White County High School Warriors were swept in their series with Stone Memorial, dropping a second straight one-run game Tuesday night in Crossville.

After falling at home on Monday, the Warriors hit the road looking to split the series but ran into the same result—a 5-4 loss that slipped away late despite a final push.

White County actually out-hit the Panthers, but found itself playing from behind early. Stone Memorial took control in the bottom of the first without recording a hit. Two walks and a sacrifice fly brought in the first run, and a pair of additional walks along with a passed ball made it 2-0 after one.

The Panthers added what would prove to be the deciding runs in the second inning. Back-to-back singles opened the frame before another passed ball allowed a run to score. A walk and a single followed, pushing two more across and stretching the lead to 5-0.

From there, White County’s pitching settled in—and gave the offense a chance.

The Warriors finally broke through in the third. Cole Sims reached after being hit by a pitch, stole second, and moved to third on a passed ball. Cole Gentry drove him in with a single, and Clay Brewington followed with another base hit to score Gentry. Later in the inning, Griffin Adams singled to keep the rally alive, and Will Thomas lined a two-out single into left to plate another run. Just like that, it was a 5-3 game.

White County chipped away but couldn’t fully close the gap until the final inning.

In the seventh, Gentry worked a leadoff walk, and Austin Pionke followed with a hard-hit ball to center for a double, scoring Gentry and cutting the deficit to one. Pionke advanced to third on the throw home, putting the tying run just 90 feet away with no outs.

But that’s as close as the Warriors would get.

Stone Memorial responded with a strikeout and two infield pop-ups to end the game, leaving the tying run stranded at third.

Adams took the loss after working into the second inning, allowing five runs—four earned—on three hits and five walks. Pionke came on in relief and kept White County within striking distance, surrendering just one hit over five innings while striking out seven.

White County now turns its attention to tournament play in Jackson County, where the Warriors will be on the road Thursday through Saturday.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE:

HITS: Austin Pionke 2, Cole Gentry 1, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1, Griffin Adams 1, Will Thomas 1, Cole Sims 1

RUNS: Cole Gentry 2, Lain Stone 1, Cole Sims 1
RBI: Cole Gentry 1, Austin Pionke 1, Clay Brewington 1, Will Thomas 1
2B: Austin Pionke 2, Preston Taylor
TB: Austin Pionke 4, Preston Taylor 2, Clay Brewington 1, Cole Gentry 1, Cole Sims 1, Griffin Adams 1, Will Thomas 1
HBP: Cole Sims, Will Thomas
SB: Cole Gentry, Cole Sims

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