By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Simmons Says- Props to The Brotherhood
Coach Danny Fish
Photo courtesy of Brent Carden Pioneer coach Danny Fish shares some encouraging insight with freshman Kiptyn Medley during a game last week.
Jeffery Simmons
Updated: Jan 22, 2025, 6:18 AM
Published: Jan 22, 2025, 2:04 AM

As cliche as it has become, coaches still all like to talk about playing for the name on the front of the jersey instead of the one on the back. Now, more than ever it seems (since the TSSAA has wild rules about what your jersey must say), that school name on the front of the jersey is always going to be stressed.

When Danny Fish arrived in Warren County, he went a different route with his team's practice jerseys. The WC logo is still in plain sight, but right above it says, "The Brotherhood."

It was something Fish wanted to instill in his program from Day 1.

"I am a big Duke fan and love the implications of 'The Brotherhood,'" said Fish, now in his third year at WCHS. "Once you are part of it, you are always a part of it. We got that phrase on our practice gear my first year here. It is perfect for our 'We over Me' philosophy."

So how does the Brotherhood show up? Well, clearly if you've been watching the Pioneers this year, it shows up in the team's ability to find new stars almost nightly during a 12-3 start to the season (not including Tuesday's game at the Dalt). But, to me, it shows up a lot more off the court.

It shows up when you get a glimpse into the inner workings of the locker room and see the inclusiveness of everybody in the program - from the star scorers to the team managers. Everybody is bought in, everybody has a voice and everybody listens.

It shows up when the team is supporting each other at every level, like when the varsity head coach is on the bench of a freshman game giving a few extra words of encouragement to kids who are still learning to be productive Pioneers. Fish doesn't have to do that - he has an army of capable coaches to handle those things. But Fish places a ton of importance in developing every kid in his program - he works with them daily. 

Most of all, it shows up when the entire team makes its way to the funeral home to show support in a time of need to a person who shows a ton of support back to them. 

Coaches can try to fake that kind of chemistry with rah-rah talk, but when it's authentic, you never have to broadcast it. Everybody can see it and the kids in the program live it daily.

Warren County is lucky to have The Brotherhood. And it's really lucky to have Danny Fish leading it.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
sports.png
Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 10:16 PM

One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.