Butler County pitchers just gave up three hits to Logan County Monday, but the Cougars made them count and also used eight walks and three stolen bases to win their baseball season opener 6-3.
Drew McLellan hit a two-run homer for the Cougars and Brady Hinton singled two more runners in. Those four runs were enough to overcome the three runs that LCHS pitchers Tate McLean and McLellan gave up. They did give up 11 hits but didn’t walk a single Bear while striking them out 12 times.
The other Cougar hit was a single by freshman TySean Thomeczek. A fifth RBI came from Noah Mosley, who walked. Others who worked Bear pitching for bases on balls were Eric Walker with two walks and McLellan, Thomeczek, Hunter Holloway, Noah Mosley and McLean added one each.
McLellan, Thomeczek, Mosley, Bryar Gaddis, Colin Wetton and Walker scored the runs. Tripp Wadlington, Gaddis and McLellan each stole the only bases the Cougars attempted. Wadlington was hit by two pitches and Holloway by another.
McLean worked 4.1 innings as the starter. He gave up the three earned runs on eight hits, but he was ahead when McLellan relieved him, so McLean got the win. McLellan had a super outing in relief. He gave up three hits, but he struck out five of the eight batters he faced and didn’t allow a run. He earned the save. Neither of them allowed a walk.
Coach Bo West sent four pitchers to the mound for Butler County. Starter Eli Oaks gave up three runs and two walks with three strikeouts while working three innings. Sam Hyatt, Tyree Duncan and Mason West also pitched.
Justin Castlen got three hits in the loss. Brycen Mode and Eli Oaks each doubled in their two hits, and Will Amos also had two hits.
Cougar Coach Ethan Meguiar lists eight freshmen as varsity candidates. In addition to Thomeczek, they are Hayden Cartas, Hayden Clark, Landon Gregory, Mason Hancock, Jonas Hayes, Will McCarley and Lyndon Wilson.