There wouldn’t be a second shot at a first impression for the WCMS softball team last week. If the Lady Pioneers wanted to get off on the right foot, they were going to have to do so in a hostile environment.
With Maddie Bryant providing the offense and Ella Wells spinning it in the circle, Warren County made sure it was successful in its debut. The Lady Pioneers beat Cannon County 4-3 Thursday, opening the season with a statement on the road.
Bryant finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate, highlighting a night where Warren County outhit the Lionettes 9-2 overall. Cannon County didn’t record a hit until the bottom of the fifth, when the Lionettes made the game interesting late, but the Lady Pioneers weren’t going to let a victory slip through their fingers.
With the tying run on first and the winning run digging in at the plate, reliever Charley Wilson was able to force a groundout to second baseman Lyvia Wilson to end the game and stop the late rally by Cannon County.
Charley earned the save, while Wells – who was brilliant in four innings of work, allowing not hits and striking out two in four innings – got the win.
Zara Laxson started the game off with a bang, doubling to centerfield on the game’s second pitch. Warren County wasn’t able to bring Laxson around to score to take a first-inning lead, but the group wouldn’t miss a second chance in the second inning.
Bryant got the offense rolling with a double to left field, then scored on an error when Adasah Haswell lifted a ball behind first base. The 1-0 lead lasted until the fourth when Warren County started adding extra insurance late.
Lyvia started the fourth with a single, then came all the way around to score on a double by Bryant to left field. Haswell put runners on the corners with a single, then Christy Farmer was able to come through with an RBI single to center to plate Bryant and make it 3-0.
Another RBI single, this one coming with two outs from June Cossitt, drove in Haswell to push Warren County ahead 4-0.
It stayed that way until to a dropped third strike ignited a rally for Cannon County. Charley Wilson nearly worked a 1-2-3 fifth inning to complete a combined no-hitter for the Lady Pioneers, but not completing a strikeout ended up giving the Lionettes late life.
Wild pitches during a walk plated Cannon County’s first run, then back-to-back RBI singles made it a one-run game before Charley was able to shut the door on the comeback.
Warren County will get a chance to make its home debut Monday when it takes on White County. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
WC hitting – Bryant 3H, RBI, Farmer H, RBI, Cossitt H, RBI, Laxson H, Reese Reinitz H (triple in third inning), Wilson H, Haswell H
Photo provided – Reese Reinitz, left, and Ella Wells hold up W’s after the WCMS Lady Pioneers defeated Cannon County Thursday.
JV wins 13-0 over Cannon County
WCMS JV Pitching – Ella Pennywell (W) 3 IP, 0H, 7K, 2 BB
WCMS JV hitting – Kate Williams 2H, Emalyn Hutchins H, 3 RBI, Aven King H, 2 RBI, MJ Maddoch H, 2 RBI, Braelyn Lefevers H, RBI, Austie Gannon H, RBI, Caroline Douglas H, RBI, Pennywell H