Franklin-Simpson, which had lost to Logan County 6-0 at home on April 12, went on the road Tuesday and left LCHS with a 2-1 squeaker of a win.
By salvaging a split, Coach Craig Delk’s Wildcats go into 13th District Tournament action in three weeks in a tie for the top seed with the Cougars. Both teams are 5-1 in district action. Russellville is third at 2-4 and Todd is 0-6.
The Cougars took an early lead on a first-inning solo home run by sophomore Austin Rayno, but that was to be Logan’s only run. The Cougars managed only two more hits, singles by Jackson Campbell and Bradly Taylor. Third Bell and Michael Riley successfully sacrificed runners into scoring position, but no one could bring them home. Dylan Penick and D.J. Beard both walked twice, and Koby Wall earned the team’s fifth safety.
Ethan Smock pitched well for the Cougars but suffered through some wildness. He gave up the two runs on three hits, two hit batsmen and five walks while striking out seven. Riley got the final five outs, relinquishing no runs on just one hit and no walks.
Senior Austin Thomason was the starting pitcher for the Wildcats and got the win. He pitched into the sixth inning, giving up the Rayno run on three hits and four walks. He struck out four Cougars. Seth Johnson—arguably the best senior pitcher in the Fourth Region, came on to get the final five outs. Sixteen of the 24 pitches he threw were strikes. He walked a batter and didn’t allow a hit.
Butler County 3, Cougars 1
It was the second straight day that Coach Ethan Meguiar’s Cougars had scored just one run. They lost 3-1 at Butler County Monday.
In that game, Logan managed only two hits, singles by Jackson Campbell and Dylan Penick, In fact, Penick singled in Campbell with the visitors’ only run in the sixth inning. Penick and Campbell also drew walks, as did Taylor, but Jack Wright was hit by pitches twice.
The Bears scored two runs in the first inning. Ty Burden came home on a groundout by Trevor Parker, who then scored on a hit by Drew Clark. Burden got the other RBI when he singled in Gage Ward, who had gotten the Bears’ fourth hit.
Freshman Tommy Krohn pitched well for Logan in the loss. All three runs were unearned. He gave up four hits and four walks while fanning five Bears.
Ward was the winning pitcher for Coach Ben Grey’s Bears, going the first six innings. Eddie Phelps pitched a scoreless, hitless seventh inning, throwing strikes on 9 of 10 pitches.
Despite the two losses, the Cougars are still tied for the best record in the region at 19-7.