WCMS Pioneers split doubleheader

Aaron Templeton didn’t need much time to adjust from getting buckets to smacking singles. Templeton led the WCMS baseball team to a win in its season opener Tuesday, finishing with three hits in an 18-6 victory at Shelbyville.

Templeton’s big game, which also included pitching two innings, came in the first game of a doubleheader. The Pioneers weren’t as successful in the second game, falling 9-4.

“The guys were very excited about playing. You could tell they were having fun,” said Pioneer coach Chad Young. “We looked great at times and other times we looked just the opposite.

“We have to work on consistency, attacking the strike zone and hitting.”

Templeton was the driving force behind the run-rule win in the victory. Templeton, who was ninth in the lineup, had RBI singles in each of his first three at-bats. In his fourth plate appearance, Templeton brought in two more runs when his hot shot to shortstop was fumbled in the fifth inning.

By then, Templeton was on the mound as well. He threw the final two innings, striking out four while allowing two runs on just one hit.

Brody Womack earned the win, pitching the first three innings and striking out six. Womack gave up just one run, but the starter surrendered four runs in large part due to five walks.

Womack helped his cause at the plate as well, finishing with one hit and one RBI.

The duo of pitchers pulled off a quick turnaround to get ready for the baseball season. Templeton and Womack were both starting guards on the WCMS basketball team, which just finished its season in early February.

Sam Rivers was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the victory, while Jarren Harris, Conner Williams and Evan Snapp each had one hit and RBIs. Tyler Adams, Jaython Baker and Talon Vinson finished with one hit in the victory.

Womack led the Pioneers from the plate offensively in the second game, finishing with two hits and scoring two runs. Snapp added one hit and two RBIs, while Templeton, who moved to the lead-off spot in Game 2, one hit, had one hit and scored one run.

Rivers and Williams also had hits in the second game, but coach Young believes his team can be much better at the plate in the future.

“The hitting will come shortly. These guys definitely have the ability, we just need to see a few more pitches,” said Young.

Warren County got four solid innings from Keynai Bryan, who struck out six while allowing just three runs. Snapp and Rivers each pitched in relief in the second game.

Five errors and five walks, leading to six unearned runs, sunk the Pioneers in the second game though.

Warren County will be back on the road Thursday when it travels to face Avery Trace. Action is set to start at 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers are set to make their home debut Monday, March 8 against Coffee County.