The White County High School baseball team went the distance Friday night, giving up just enough to keep the DBA Miners within reach early on before pulling away for good. Behind a 14-hit performance, the Warriors cruised to an 11-3 win at Culley Field at Ethan Roberts Ballpark.

DBA struck first in the top of the opening inning, using a walk and a double to grab a 1-0 lead. White County answered immediately. Cole Gentry was hit by a pitch, stole second, and moved to third on a fly ball off the bat of Austin Pionke. He came home moments later when Preston Taylor sent a ball into center field to even the score.

The Warriors took control in the second inning and never looked back. Kolt Norris drew a leadoff walk and Kaden Seibers followed with a single. Cole Sims laid down a bunt to move both runners into scoring position, and Pionke delivered with a line drive to left that plated two runs and gave White County the lead for good.

DBA threatened in the third, loading the bases with two outs on a walk and a pair of hit batters, but Gentry shut the door with a line drive snag at third to strand all three runners.

That momentum quickly shifted the other way. The Warriors broke the game open in the bottom half of the inning, turning a two-run edge into a commanding lead. Clay Brewington singled and Will Thomas walked to start things off before Norris drove in a run with a base hit. Seibers followed with a two-run single, and Sims added another with a double to right. A walk to Gentry and a single from Pionke reloaded the bases, and Sims later scored on a passed ball as White County stretched the lead to 9-1.

The Miners added a run in the fourth with another walk-and-double combination, but the Warriors answered again. A walk, a single, and a fielder’s choice put runners in scoring position before Gentry lined a ball past third base to drive in two more and push the lead to 11-2.

DBA tacked on one final run in the seventh, but it never threatened the outcome as White County closed it out.

It was a pitcher-by-committee night for the Warriors. Gentry got the start, working 2.2 innings while allowing one run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. Nick Nelson followed with an inning of work, giving up one run on a hit and a walk. Matthew Wilson handled the rest, going 3.1 innings and allowing one unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out three.

The win caps a perfect week for the Warriors, who also picked up victories on Monday and Tuesday. It pushes White County to 12-11 on the season—an impressive turnaround for a team that opened the year 2-6.

The Warriors close out the regular season with an all-Putnam County slate next week, hosting Upperman on Monday before hitting the road for matchups at Upperman and Cookeville ahead of postseason play.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE: 

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

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

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