Warriors Take Series with Clinton County

The White County Warriors made it three wins this week on Thursday night, and this one never felt in doubt.

After sneaking past Clinton County Bulldogs 4-2 earlier in the week, the Warriors left no room for drama in the rematch. They jumped out early, stayed in control, and rode a big offensive night to a 14-7 win to take the home-and-away series.

White County wasted no time setting the tone.

Austin Pionke and Preston Taylor opened the game with singles, and Griffin Adams followed with a clutch double that brought both runners home. An inning later, the Warriors blew the game open. A walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a single loaded the bases, and Pionke worked a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 3-0. Clay Brewington added an RBI single, Taylor was hit by a pitch to force in another run, and Adams struck again with a second big double. By the time Will Thomas added an RBI single, the Warriors had built an 8-0 cushion before Clinton County could catch its breath.

The Bulldogs answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second, but there was never a real shift in momentum.

White County kept the pressure on in the third. Pionke reached again—his third time on base in as many innings—and came around to score on a Brewington ground ball to stretch the lead to 9-2.

Clinton County made its biggest push in the bottom of the third, stringing together a double, a walk, and a mix of timely hits and defensive miscues to cut the lead to 9-5. But that was as close as it would get.

The Warriors answered immediately.

Adams was hit by a pitch to start the fourth, and Kolt Norris ripped a double into left field to bring him home. Norris later scored on a Thomas single, and Cole Gentry added another RBI knock to cap a three-run frame that pushed the lead back to seven.

Clinton County scratched across two more runs in the fourth, but from there, things settled in. White County added insurance runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to put the finishing touches on the 14-7 win.

On the mound, it was a true team effort. Cole Gentry got the start, working through early innings before the Warriors turned to the bullpen. Matthew Wilson, Nick Nelson, Preston Taylor, and Kaden Seibers all saw action, combining to navigate the final frames and secure the win.

The victory marks the Warriors’ third in four games this week and keeps their momentum rolling heading into a Friday matchup with Cookeville.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE:

HITS: Austin Pionke 3, Griffin Adams 2, Will Thomas 2, Cole Gentry 1, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1, Kolt Norris 1, Cole Sims 1
RUNS: Austin Pionke 3, Preston Taylor 2, Griffin Adams 2, Will Thomas 2, Cole Gentry 1, Clay Brewington 1, Kolt Norris 1, Kaden Seibers 1, Cole Sims 1
RBI: Griffin Adams 3, Austin Pionke 2, Clay Brewington 2, Preston Taylor 2, Will Thomas 2, Cole Gentry 1, Kolt Norris 1, Cole Sims 1
2B: Griffin Adams 2, Austin Pionke, Kolt Norris
TB: Austin Pionke 4, Griffin Adams 4, Kolt Norris 2, Will Thomas 2, Clay Brewington 1, Cole Gentry 1, Cole Sims 1, Preston Taylor 1
HBP: Cole Gentry 2, Clay Brewington, Griffin Adams, Preston Taylor
SB: Austin Pionke 2, Cole Gentry 2, Griffin Adams 2, Kaden Seibers, Will Thomas
CS: Cole Gentry
E: Austin Pionke, Clay Brewington, Cole Sims, Kaden Seibers

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