Warriors Fall 6-5 to Livingston, Season Ends

White County’s season came to a close Friday night in a back-and-forth postseason battle, as the Warriors fell 6-5 to Livingston Academy in the deciding game of a best-of-three series.

White County wasted no time setting the tone. In the top of the first, Cole Gentry laced a double to center to get things started, and Austin Pionke followed by reaching on an error that allowed Gentry to score for a 1-0 lead. The early advantage, however, didn’t hold for long.

Livingston answered in the bottom of the second, stringing together a series of base hits, a sacrifice, and a key error to plate five runs and take a 5-1 lead. The Wildcats’ rally flipped the game’s momentum, but not for long.

The Warriors chipped away in the fourth. Pionke reached with a single and moved into scoring position before Clay Brewington delivered a run-scoring double to make it 5-2. Two batters later, Preston Taylor turned on a pitch and drove it out to center field for a two-run home run, suddenly pulling White County within one at 5-4.

Both teams settled in briefly from there. Livingston threatened in the fourth but couldn’t extend its lead, and White County was held quiet in the fifth.

In the sixth, the Warriors found another answer. Griffin Adams led off with a double and later scored when Kolt Norris shot a ground ball through the infield for a game-tying RBI single, evening things at 5-5 and setting up a tense finish.

Livingston responded in the bottom half of the inning. Using a reach on an error, a walk, and a fielder’s choice, the Wildcats scratched across what proved to be the game-winning run to go back in front 6-5.

White County had one final opportunity in the seventh. Gentry reached on an error to give the Warriors a baserunner, but Livingston recorded the final out on a fly ball to right, ending the rally and the game.

Matthew Wilson got the start on the mound, working five innings while allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out two. Griffin Adams finished the game, pitching one inning with one walk and one strikeout. Two runs crossed the plate — one during each pitcher’s time on the mound — that were unearned and not charged to either.

WHITE COUNTY BOX SCORE:

HITS: Cole Gentry 1, Austin Pionke 1, Griffin Adams 1, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1, Kolt Norris 1
RUNS: Cole Gentry 1, Austin Pionke 1, Griffin Adams 1, Clay Brewington 1, Preston Taylor 1
RBI: Preston Taylor 2, Clay Brewington 1, Kolt Norris 1
2B: Clay Brewington, Cole Gentry, Griffin Adams
HR: Preston Taylor
TB: Preston Taylor 4, Clay Brewington 2, Cole Gentry 2, Griffin Adams 2, Austin Pionke 1, Kolt Norris 1

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