Zach Denney pitched two complete game wins last week as his Russellville Panthers won by 10 runs against Todd Central and by one over traditional baseball power Owensboro Senior
Denney pitched a 2-hitter and Barrett Croslin scored three runs as the Panthers beat Todd Central 12-2 in a district contest Tuesday.
Denney walked only two and struck out 11 batters. Neither of the runs was earned.
Coach Greg Shelton’s Panthers scored six runs in the fourth inning to break the game open. After an out, Crewston Kemp and George Collins singled, Colby Nichols reached on an error, Barrett Croslin was hit by a pitch, Tyler Hall singled and Corey Wright doubled. They all scored as Denney singled, Jacob Procter walked, and Travis Kennedy reached on an error.
For the game Croslin doubled, singled and scored three runs. Hall was on base three times and scored twice. Wright scored two runs, Denney singled twice, Procter singled and scored, and Collins had two hits.
Then on Saturday in the first game of a home split doubleheader, Denney pitched again, beating Senior High of Owensboro 5-4. The Red Devils got eight hits, but just one walk. Only three of the runs were earned. Denney struck out nine batters.
Croslin, Procter and Nichols each had two hits. Wright and Denney got the other two. Croslin and Hall scored two runs each with Denney tallying the other.
Denney, Procter and Wesley Stratton each were credited with an RBI.
The Panthers scored three of their runs in the first inning. Croslin singled, Hall walked, and Denney singled. Procter followed with a double. In the second Nichols doubled, and Croslin singled, but Nichols was thrown out at the plate. For the second straight inning, Croslin stole second and then he scored his second run of the game on a Red Devil error.
The winning run scored in the seventh without a hit. Hall, Wright and Denney drew consecutive walks, and Hall scored a run on a walk-off wild pitch.
In the other game of the day, the Panthers lost 8-4 to Warren Central. The home team managed only two hits, a triple by Croslin and a single by Procter. Croslin, Hall, Stratton and Nichols scored the runs. Croslin, Wright, Procter and Nichols each had an RBI. Stratton, Collins and Nichols walked. Croslin stole his third base of the day.
Kemp pitched the first four innings and gave up seven runs on seven hits and four walks. Procter worked the last two innings.