The White County Middle School Warriors had to come from behind — and then break a tie twice — on Tuesday night, but they did just that to steal an 8-7 win from the Stone Memorial Panthers.

Stone Memorial wasted no time getting on the board. The leadoff batter ripped a double into left field on the third pitch of the game, and two batters later he scored on a line-drive single to the same spot. A stolen base and a White County error added another run, giving the Panthers an early 2-0 lead.

White County answered in the bottom of the first. Haskell Simmons reached on a ground ball into the outfield, Jack Dicus worked a walk, and Ryder Staggs singled to load the bases. But momentum nearly slipped away when Simmons was doubled off third on a fly ball by Cayden Boswell. Instead of stalling, the Warriors pushed through. Noah Teeple delivered a single that scored Dicus and got White County on the board.

The Panthers added another run in the top of the second to make it 3-1, but that’s when the Warriors responded in a big way.

Three straight walks loaded the bases, and although Stone got the force out at home on a ground ball by Dicus, the damage was coming. Staggs followed with a hard ground ball into left field, bringing home Simmons and Samuel Price to tie the game. Teeple drew a walk to reload the bases, and moments later Dicus came home on an error by the Stone catcher, giving White County its first lead of the night.

The Warriors weren’t done.

An inning later, they stretched the lead. Singles by Zade Brown, Price, and Dicus plated a run, and Staggs came through again with a double that scored Price and Dicus. After three innings, White County looked firmly in control with a 7-3 advantage.

But Stone Memorial didn’t go away.

The Panthers scored two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth, tying the game for the second time and setting up a tense finish.

In the bottom of the fifth, Price worked a walk and then stole second. Simmons put the ball in play, and a miscue by the Stone third baseman allowed Price to race home with the winning run — sealing the 8-7 victory for the Warriors.

Staggs got the start on the mound for White County, going three innings while allowing three runs on six hits and two walks, striking out five. Kolton Seibers closed it out, giving up four runs — only two earned — on six hits over the final two innings.

The Warriors improve to 7-5 on the season and will travel to Crossville on Thursday for the return matchup against Stone Memorial.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE: 

HITS: Ryder Staggs 3, Haskel Simmons 1, Jack Dicus 1, Noah Teeple 1, Zade Brown 1, Samuel Price 1 
RUNS: Jack Dicus 3, Samuel Price 3, Haskel Simmons 1, Zade Brown 1 
RBI: Ryder Staggs 4, Jack Dicus 1, Noah Teeple 1 
2B: Ryder S 
TB: Ryder S 4, Haskel S 1, Jack D 1, Noah T 1, Samuel P 1, Zade B 1 
HBP: Tate P 
SB: Samuel P 

The Main Street Journal – Sparta's Spring Sports coverage is brought to you by Sparta Heating & Air Conditioning. 

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