This Week in Sports: May 4-9

May doesn’t ask how you got here. It only asks if you can win.

Across Warren County, the path forward is simple and unforgiving. Nearly every team still playing this week is stepping into elimination games, where one result decides whether a season continues or comes to an end. There’s no more building, no more finding rhythm — just execution when it matters most.

For others, the pressure looks a little different but feels the same. WCHS track athletes head to sectionals needing top-four finishes to keep their seasons alive and earn a shot at state. It’s the same goal across the board this time of year — survive, advance and give yourself a chance to compete for the biggest prizes left on the calendar.

That’s what May brings. Opportunities don’t come in bunches anymore. They come one at a time.

As always, This Week in Sports is brought to you by Westwood Church of Christ, the presenting sponsor of all Main Street Journal spring sports coverage this year.

Let’s get rolling.

WCHS soccer set to host with momentum

WCHS soccer couldn’t have asked for a better way to enter the postseason.

The Pioneers closed the regular season with back-to-back wins, including a dominant 9-0 victory over Stone Memorial on Senior Night that pushed the team to 10-4-1. More importantly, it showed a team that is starting to click at the right time.

That finish came on the heels of a statement 3-2 win over Franklin County, a result that flipped an earlier loss and locked up second place in District 9-AAA. In both matches, Warren County showed balance - scoring early, creating chances throughout and holding on defensively when the pressure ramped up late.

Now comes the next step.

Warren County will host either Coffee County or Lincoln County in the District 9-AAA semifinals Tuesday night at 7 p.m., with a chance to play for a district title and secure a spot in the region tournament.

The offense has been the driving force all season, led by Kaito Takahashi, who enters the postseason with 21 goals after recording a hat trick in the regular-season finale. Gabriel Cordova and Isaac Rodriguez have added scoring depth, while contributions from across the lineup have made the Pioneers difficult to defend when they’re in rhythm.

Carrying that rhythm and confidence into a win-or-go-home setting will be the difference. The opportunity is there - home field, momentum and a team that’s starting to believe in what it can be.

Now it’s about delivering when it matters most.

Playoff football coming to Nunley Stadium

When flag football was announced by the TSSAA, Warren County jumped on the chance to offer the sport locally. Last year’s postseason chances in Year 1 were murky, but the path to titles is crystal clear this year: win the region tournament and state awaits.

The Lady Pioneers will get their postseason journey started at home this week, an added perk following a dominant 15-1 run through the regular season. Warren County is set to host either Riverdale or Smyrna, as the Warriors and Bulldogs will meet Monday in Murfreesboro. The winner moves on to face Warren County in the single-elimination Region 3AA bracket.

The Lady Pioneers have already handled both this season, beating Smyrna 39-7 and Riverdale 54-18 at Nunley Stadium. And while Warren County – and especially coach Paul Martin – will not be overlooking anybody in the postseason, all eyes seem to be on Blackman this week.

Warren County wants to make it to Blackman High School later this week, where the semifinals (Wednesday) and finals (Thursday) will be held. The Blaze are the No. 1 seed, courtesy of their 27-20 comeback win at Nunley Stadium two months ago, and could be the biggest hurdle for the Lady Pioneers to clear if they want to make it to state at Siegel next week.

The region numbers for the Lady Pioneers have been staggering all season. Warren County went 9-1 in region matchups, outscoring opponents 404-98. The Lady Pioneers had three shutouts and allowed over 20 points just once – to the Lady Blaze.

On the flip side, no team held Warren County under 20 points, while the offense scored 30 or more points seven times, including in its last four region outings.

Warren County’s offense has been cooking with extra gas of late, dropping 63 points on LaVergne on April 23 and hitting a season-high 64 points against Shelbyville April 17.

Freshman quarterback Dorlia Haycox, according to MaxPreps, is the No. 2 passer in Tennessee. Haycox has racked up 3,034 yards and 40 touchdowns despite starting the season as the No. 2 on the depth chart behind Chloe Wanamaker, who has been out for the last month with a knee injury.

Having a wealth of talent at receiver helps. Maci McBride is one of just four players in the state with over 1,000 receiving yards. The junior has 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Harmoni Kennerly (738 yards, 13 touchdowns), Willow Durant (442 yards) and Allie Melton (390 yards, 12 touchdowns) all provide additional options that are difficult to cover.

Defensively, it’s all about disruption and turnovers. Ariyanna Rippy, one of two college signees on the roster (along with Melton), has a team-high 113 stops and a staggering 45 sacks this season. Durant is next with 110 stops, while Alyssa Boyd has 76 flag pulls and eight sacks.

On the back end, McBride can erase any team’s top option. She has 20 of Warren County’s 55 interceptions this season, many of which have been returned for scores. Melton has added 11 interceptions, while Durant, Boyd, Kennerly and Harper Fuston also have multiple picks.

If Warren County wins Tuesday, kickoff for the semifinals in Blackman Wednesday is set for 7 p.m. The championship game will be Thursday night at 6 p.m.

Banner watch at WCMS

One look around the gym at Warren County Middle School is all it takes to know the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers rack up titles. A few spring teams are hoping to add to that banner count this week.

WCMS soccer already has one championship secured, topping Avery Trace 6-2 last week for the District 7-AA title in the new TMSAA postseason format. The Pioneers, still unbeaten and rarely scored upon, will look to make a run at the Region 4AA championship when they take the field at home Monday against West Wilson at 6 p.m.

While the Pioneers try to punch their ticket to the region finals at home, the WCMS Lady Pioneer softball team will head on the road to face West Wilson in a similar win-or-go-home battle.

Warren County is coming off an exhausting run in the district tournament, where the Lady Pioneers had to play five games in five days to keep their season alive. The group, which got off to a slow start but has been riding a hot streak for the last month, has been strong in elimination games, winning three straight last week.

Monday’s matchup in Mt. Juliet is set to begin at 6 p.m.

The WCMS track team is also aiming to continue its run of dominance in the conference championship Thursday. The Pioneers have won the last four CTC titles and will try to make it five straight at Raider Academy.

Full schedule

Monday, May 4
WCHS tennis in individual region tourney, TBD
WCMS softball at West Wilson, 6 p.m.
WCMS soccer vs. West Wilson, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5
WCHS track in sectionals (Cookeville), 10 a.m.
WCHS flag football vs. Riverdale/Smyrna, 6 p.m.
WCHS softball at Lincoln County, 6 p.m.
WCHS soccer vs. Coffee/Lincoln, 7 p.m.

Friday, May 8
WCMS track in conference championship, TBD