Security Federal Athletes of the Week: May 15-21

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 achievements 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!

Lady Pioneer softball team

Conjuring up magical postseason runs is becoming a tradition for WCHS softball. This year was no different as the Lady Pioneers claimed another district title and made their second-ever appearance in the TSSAA sectionals.

It would be impossible to single out any player who helped the Lady Pioneers make a postseason push, including just their second home win in the region May 16 when the team topped Rhea County 6-2. The group was close-knit and gelled at the perfect time, something coach Gooby Martin noted several times throughout the run.

“One thing about this team is they always play hard and play for each other. They don’t care about the numbers or who puts up stats,” said Martin after his team rallied to beat Coffee County 4-3 in the District 6-4A championship game.

Leading the way during the strong finish was a tremendous senior class that will “be missed by us next year,” according to their coach.

Pitcher Madison Hollis leaves the Lady Pioneers after winning nine postseason games, the most in school history, including her final W coming against Rhea County at home.

Shelby Roberts had two hits in her final game for Warren County, ripping a double and single against Stewarts Creek in an eventual season-ending loss in the sectionals. Marli McBride and Aleya Esparza also had hits in their final games, finishing the last week of the year hitting .333 each in the postseason.

Junior Alyssa Mosley was a monster in the postseason, including collecting two hits in the win over Rhea County. Freshmen Callie Roberts was also a hitting machine in the final weeks, ripping a pair of RBI doubles as the Lady Pioneers punched their ticket to the sectionals on their home field.

Fellow freshmen Addison Smith (who got her first start in the region championship) and Ky Damon were vital to the team’s run, while sophomore Kora Forbes and junior Jessie Young held down the corners for the Lady Pioneers. Dallis Melton, Jaz Ward and Maggie Whiles also saw action in the postseason, one that continued the team’s run of hanging banners.

In the last five full seasons (excluding a cancelled 2020 year due to COVID), the Lady Pioneers have won two district regular season titles (2017, 2021), two district tourney titles (2018, 2022) and a region championship (2019).

Coach Martin and the Lady Pioneers will be looking to add to the trophy case next spring!