Warriors drop series opener to Livingston

After weather delays earlier in the week, the White County High School baseball team finally returned to the field Thursday, opening a best-of-three postseason series against Livingston Academy. The Warriors couldn’t capitalize on early momentum, falling 8-2 in the series opener at home.

White County struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Cole Gentry worked a leadoff walk, Austin Pionke followed with a single, and Griffin Adams drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Clay Brewington then put the ball in play, and while Gentry was forced out at the plate, the defensive sequence allowed Pionke to come home from third and give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.

Livingston answered in the top of the second. A double, walk, and single — combined with a White County error — allowed the Wildcats to even the score. Two batters later, a balk with a runner on third pushed Livingston in front.

Both teams scattered baserunners over the next few innings, but the game broke open in the fifth. Livingston strung together six consecutive hits — three singles followed by three doubles — to plate five runs. The Wildcats added another run with the help of three walks in the inning, extending the lead to 8-1 before White County could escape.

The Warriors attempted to answer in the bottom of the seventh. Kaden Seibers reached on an error, and Cole Sims laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him into scoring position. Seibers advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Gentry’s sacrifice fly to right field. But that was all White County could muster as the rally stalled.

Will Thomas got the start on the mound for the Warriors, working 4.1 innings. He allowed eight runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out four. Nick Nelson followed with two innings of relief, surrendering just one hit. Matthew Wilson closed out the game, needing only four pitches to induce a line-drive double play.

White County now faces a win-or-go-home situation in Game 2 as the Warriors look to rebound and keep their season alive.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE 

HITS: Austin Pionke 1, Kolt Norris 1 
RUNS: Austin Pionke 1, Kaden Seibers 1 
RBI: Cole Gentry 1, Clay Brewington 1 
TB: Austin Pionke 1, Kolt Norris 1 
SF: Cole Gentry 
SB: Austin Pionke 2, Cole Gentry 

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