The White County High School baseball team sent the Cumberland County Jets home with a loss Monday night, as the Warriors came out on top 7-5. While the final score suggested a tight game, White County controlled the action from the opening pitch.

It took just five pitches for Will Thomas to retire the side in the top of the first inning, and the Warriors’ offense quickly followed suit. Cole Gentry reached base on an error by the Cumberland County shortstop, and Austin Pionke lined a single into left field. Clay Brewington then drove a ball deep into center for a double, scoring Gentry and putting two runners in scoring position. Pionke crossed the plate on a passed ball, and Brewington came home a few pitches later to give White County a 3-0 lead heading into the second inning.

Cumberland County got on the board in the top of the second after the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch and later scored with the help of a couple of Warrior miscues. But White County quickly regrouped, turning a 6-4-3 double play — Pionke to Griffin Adams to Kolt Norris — to shut down the inning.

The Warriors answered in the bottom half. Norris led off with a single and advanced with a walk to Kaden Seibers. A pair of sacrifice plays by Cole Simes and Gentry allowed Norris to work his way around and score, extending the lead.

Both teams traded runs in the third inning, keeping the margin at three as White County held a 5-2 advantage. Cumberland County added another run in the fourth, but the Warriors responded again in the bottom half.

Pionke reached on a dropped third strike, stole second, and scored on a line drive to center by Preston Taylor. Taylor advanced to second on an error and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a groundout by Adams, pushing the lead to 7-3.

The Jets made one final push in the sixth, scoring two runs to close the gap, but that was as close as they would get. White County held on for the 7-5 win.

Thomas went 5.1 innings on the mound, allowing five runs — only two earned — on five hits while issuing five walks and striking out four. Nick Nelson came on in relief to finish the game, giving up two hits and a walk while preserving the win.

The victory moves the Warriors to 5-7 on the season, with the second half of the home-and-home series set for Tuesday night in Crossville.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE 

HITS: Austin Pionke 2, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1, Griffin Adams 1, Will Thomas 1, Kolt Norris 1, Cole Sims 1 
RUNS: Austin Pionke 2, Cole Gentry 1, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1, Griffin Adams 1, Kolt Norris 1 
RBI: Cole Gentry 1, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1, Griffin Adams 1, Cole Sims 1 
2B: Clay Brewington 
TB: Austin Pionke 2, Clay Brewington 2, Cole Sims 1, Griffin Adams 1, Kolt Norris 1, Preston Taylor 1, Will Thomas 1 
SF: Cole Gentry 
SB: Austin Pionke, Griffin Adams 

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

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