Security Federal Athlete of the Week: April 24-30

Partnering with Security Federal, the Warren County Sports Authority will honor a standout local athlete each week. The WCSA and the Friendliest Bank in Town love seeing great athletic achievement and there are plenty to pick from every week in Warren County. From winter to summer, spring to fall, and on courts, fields, diamonds, dance floors and anywhere else an athlete can succeed, Security Federal and the Sports Authority are going to be on the lookout for the best of the best!

Pioneer pitcher Kyle Johnson

For years, Kyle Johnson has been working hard and waiting on his chance. He’s put in time in the pen, spent sessions shagging balls and doggedly worked on his game in hopes of getting a chance to shine. As a senior, Johnson has emerged as an indispensable member of the Pioneer rotation.

Johnson is coming off his best performance as a Pioneer last week, throwing his first career shutout as Warren County pounded Cumberland County Friday 7-0. The senior allowed just four hits and didn’t surrender a run as he gave the Pioneers much needed momentum entering their final week of the regular season (along with this weekend’s District 6-4A tournament).

Don’t be surprised if Johnson gets the ball again in big moments coming up in the postseason. Coach Phillip King knows he’s earned that chance.

“Kyle has been a guy we’ll throw when there is no outs and the bases loaded. We’ve thrown him in the fire and he’s gotten us out of scenarios,” said King after Saturday’s win. “We wanted to get Kyle the start and maybe some other guys some work tonight, but then you hear him (in the dugout) and he wanted the complete game. He wanted the shutout. I ran him back out there and he got the job done.”

If his pitching wasn’t enough, Johnson and his teammates also spent Saturday working his the kids of the community in a baseball camp at Milner Recreation Center. He was one of the hands on instructors there as the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers were hoping to build future stars for the program. Johnson concluded his big weekend by attending the prom Saturday.

Johnson has steadily grown as a pitcher for the Pioneers, earning his reps by taking care of business on the bump. He leads Warren County in appearances (throwing in 11 of 29 games), while owning a 2-2 record and holding the team’s lone save. Johnson in third on the team in ERA (2.73) and first in WHIP (1.14) – Walks + Hits per Inning Pitched.

He's also a steady contributor in centerfield and has a .304 batting average with nine stolen bases. He will be one of seven seniors honored Tuesday at home when the Pioneers take on DeKalb County at Patrick Ramsey Field.

Warren County is scheduled to finish out the regular season Wednesday against Watertown before taking on Coffee County Friday in the opening round of the District 6-4A tournament. The Pioneers face off with the Red Raiders at 4:30 p.m. in Manchester.