When Meagan Ferguson’s bases-loaded walk drove in courtesy runner Tristan Hales with Logan County’s fifth run in the fourth inning, there was no way to know this would turn out to be the winning run in the Lady Cougars’ district win at Todd Central Tuesday.
Hales’ run made the score 5-2, but Coach Calvin Head’s Lady Rebels scored a pair of runs late before Logan held on for a 6-4 victory. As a result, Logan will be the home team on the scoreboard when these same two teams meet again in the 13th District Tournament in Franklin May 19.
The Lady Cougars scored four runs in a third inning outburst. Ferguson reached on an error, Brea Croslin sacrificed her over, Sierra Morrow and Maddie Abbott walked, and Victoria Cates reached on a fielder’s choice that left everyone safe. Shelby Milam walked before Rachel Barnett got the first hit of the inning, and Macy Meacham was hit by a pitch. Hales scored as a courtesy runner.
Logan’s final run scored in the sixth when Abbott singled, Milam walked, and Barnett reached on an error.
The Lady Rebels made a good effort to come back in the seventh. Natalie Perry singled, Makayla Bilyeu and Shelby Dorsey walked, and Addye Sawyers reached on an error. The Lady Rebels had the bases loaded with the tying and winning runs on board and the top of the order coming to the plate, but freshman reliever Meacham got Taylor Gilliland to line out to shortstop Morrow and Tara Walters to ground out to Milam at first base to end the game.
Cates was the winning pitcher, going six-plus innings and allowing four runs—three earned, on four hits, nine walks and two strikeouts. Meacham faced four batters and got three of them out. She earned the save. Seventh grader Presley Harris and Walters pitched for the home team.
Abbott led Logan with two hits plus a walk, and scored two runs. Morrow and Barnett added a hit, a walk and a run each. Catcher Raegan Cole walked twice. Hales scored two runs.
Perry had two of the four Todd hits with the other two coming off the bats of Robertson and Harris.
The win was the ninth of the season, including six of their last ten, for Coach Michael Crawford’s Lady Cougars.