When the Kentucky Sluggers left 12 runners on base in a season-opening loss on June 18, no one knew then what a rarity that would be. Going into the final tournament in the last weekend of July, the Sluggers had 17 straight wins, including two tournament championships. Many of the players are members of the Logan County and Russellville high school teams. Some of them also play on lower age level teams and on Babe Ruth teams.

The win streak ended in a tournament at Bardstown. The Sluggers went 2-2 in that one while playing without three guys who were in West Virginia as part of the West Kentucky Babe Ruth State 15-Year-Old champions. The Logan County-based team finished with a sparkling 19-3 record for the summer portion of their schedule.

This group of Sluggers is coached by Shane King of Bowling Green with assistance from Dicky Shifflett, Jeff Harper and Tracy Nash.

The opener saw the Sluggers fall 5-4 to the Diamond Aces when a comeback fell a run short at Warren East. The Aces scored all five of their runs in the fifth inning when the first four batters walked and C. Roberts doubled.

Starting pitcher Dustin Nash doubled to lead off the Sluggers seventh. After an out, Dustin Cartas, Ryan Harper and John Logan Dockins all singled and Caleb Wills walked. Two runs had scored with the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base. But Harper and Dockins became the 11th and 12th stranded baserunners.

Nash walked and scored in the third inning. Cartas also walked and Harper got a hit. Nash got a leadoff hit in the fifth, but the 2-3--4 hitters stranded him. In the sixth, Dockins led off with a single, Wills was hit by a pitch and Ryan Basham walked, but Dockins was the only one who scored.

Sluggers 3, Kentucky Colonels 0
The win streak began immediately that day with Lawton Jackson pitching the complete game 3-hitter, walking only 1 and striking out 6.

All three runs scored in the fourth inning. After an out, Cartas walked and Harper doubled. Dockins followed with a single, and Wills hit a sacrifice fly. The Sluggers threatened in the sixth with two outs when Harper doubled again and Dockins walked, but they were stranded. Nash, Thomas Shifflett and Ryan Steenbergen all had a hit.

Sluggers 7, Glasgow 3
This came the following day, also at East. Shifflett and Cartas each scored two runs. The big inning was the fifth when Shifflett singled, Cartas and Harper reached on consecutive infield errors, Wills singled, Steenbergen walked, Ryan Basham was hit by a pitch and Thomas Miller singled in a run before Steenbergen was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Drew Hayes led off the seventh by reaching on an error and scoring. Nash bunted him over, Cartas walked, Harper hit a sacrifice fly, and Dockins walked.

Two runs had scored in the first when Nash and Cartas walked, and winning pitcher Dockins reached on an error.

Sluggers 8, Greenwood 1
This was the Sluggers' fourth game in two days at East. Cartas pitched the win, giving up only 3 hits.

The Sluggers sent 13 men to the plate and scored 7 runs in the second inning. Dockins singled, Wills sacrificed, Steenbergen walked, Drew Hayes had an RBI single, Jackson squeezed in a run for a sacrifice and an RBI, Nash had an RBi single, Shifflett doubled in a run, Cartas was hit by a pitch, Harper singled in a run, Dockins walked and Wills reached on an error.

Hayes scored his second run of the game in the third on his second hit. He stole second and scored on Nash's sacrifice fly.

Sluggers 6, Kentucky Colonels 2
This game was played June 29 at Allen County-Scottsville but the opponent was a familiar one. Enough runs to win scored in the first inning. Nash was hit by a pitch, but Shifflett forced him at second. Cartas tripled in Shifflett, Harper walked, Dockins singled for an RBI and Harper scored on Wills' sacrifice fly.

The other three runs scored in the second when Jackson led of with a single. Nash sacrficed him over for the second out, and Jackson scored when Shifflett's ball was booted by the shortstop. Then Cartas hit a 2-run homer.

The Sluggers didn't get another base runner until the fifth inning when Shifflett reached for the third time, this one on a double. Cartas walked to reach the third time himself, but they were stranded. Basham and Hayes also got hits in the game.

Shifflett got the win, pitching the first four hitless innings, walking 2 and hitting 2 batters. Miller pitched the final two innings..

Sluggers 5, Bluegrass Stars 1
The bottom of the order scored the 4 runs that were the difference in the second inning in the second game of the day. Wills doubled and Jackson reached on a sacrifice bunt that the catcher botched. Hayes bunted for a singled, and Miller got an RBI singled. Shifflett hit a sacrifice fly, Cartas walked and Harper singled in Miller. Cartas had doubled in the first inning and scored on an error. Dockins had a hit in that inning.

Nash pitched 5 innings for the complete-game win, giving up the 2 runs on 3 his and no walks.

Sluggers 8, Lone Oak 6
This down-to-the-wire win at Brooks Stadium in Paducah on July 2 showed the Sluggers could win close, high-scoring games. The winning runs scored in the sixth when Nash walked and scored on Cartas' 2-out, 2-run homer. Cartas had already singled and doubled in the game, scoring 3 runs. Nash had a triple and a single and scored twice. Shifflett waled and singled, scoring 2 runs.

In the first inning, Nash singled, Shifflett walked and Cartas doubled them in. After an out, Dockins singled and Wills drove in Cartas. In the third, Shiflett singled, Harper reached on an error, Dockins stroked an RBI single and Wills hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Cartas led of the fifth with a single. Dockins got his third hit, and Wills drove in a run on a groundout. Basham followed with a single, but he and Wills were stranded.

Jackson pitched the win, giving up the 6 runs on 10 hits.

Sluggers 8, Newburg 5
This win came over an Indiana team at Lone Oak High School on July 3. The Sluggers scored 2 runs in the first inning when Nash walked, Shifflett doubled, and Cartas and Harper reached on consecutive errors by the third baseman. Miller and Nash got hits in the second but were stranded.

The big inning was the third. Cartas singled, Harper sacrificed him over, Dockins and Wills were hit by pitches, Basham singled in a run and Miller got his second straight hit, singling in two runs. Nash reached for the third straight inning, this one on an infield error.

The first three batters in the fourth reached with Harper and Dockins walking and Wills singling, but Nash was forced at the plate, and a double play ended the inning.

In the fifth, Steenbergen walked, Nash and Shifflett each singled, and Cartas was hit by a pitch for an RBI, but only one run scored. In the sixth, Wills walked, Basham reached on an error, Jackson walked, and Nash singled for an RBI. It was the fifth straight time he had reached base, including 3 hits. Shifflett singled, but only one scored. The final Sluggers run came in the seventh when Dockins singled and Wills reached on an error.

Shifflett was the winning pitcher. He struggled in the first inning, giving up 3 runs on a hit and 3 walks while throwing 38 pitches, but he got better as he went. Dockins pitched the final inning, giving up a run on 3 hits and a walk.

Sluggers 8, Cape Giarardeau 0
Basham pitched the 2-hit, 5-inning shutout in the second win of the day against an out-of-state team. Harper had a big day at the plate, getting 3 hits and scoring 3 runs in his only plate appearances.

The Sluggers scored 4 runs in the first. Nash walked, Cartas singled for an RBI, Harper singled, Dockins reached on an error, Wills singled, and Basham and Jackson each walked. Two more runs came home in the third. Harper and Wills got hits, Basham walked, Jackson singled and Nash walked. Jackson's hit came on an RBI bunt.

In the fourth, Harper singled, moved up on two passed balls, and scored when Wills walked and stole second. In the fifth, Jackson reached for the third time and got his second hit. After an out, Nash reached for the third time by getting a hit, and Shifflett singled in Jckson with the game-ending RBI.

Sluggers 10, Funk House 1
This Evansville team was no match for the Sluggers at Brooks Stadium. Nash pitched the semifinals win, giving just 1 run on 3 hits and 2 walks.

A trio of runners scored in the first inning. Shifflett singled, and with two outs Harper singled him in. Then Dockins followed with a 2-run homer. Basham had a hit in the second.

Seven runs scored in the third inning as the Sluggers sent 13 batters to the plate. Cartas, Harper, Dockins and Basham all walked while Wills was hit by a pitch. Miller lofted a sacrifice fly, and Jackson singled in a run. Nash was hit by a pitch, and Shifflett hit for 2 RBIs. Cartas followed with a 2-RBI single. Basham had a 2-out double in the fifth.

Sluggers 10, Lone Oak 3
This championship came on the Fourth of July at Paducah. Shifflett had 2 doubles and scored 3 runs. Cartas drove in a pair of runs with a singled and a double, and he scored twice. Harper had 2 hits and scored 2 runs, and Wills singled in a run and scored anotehr.. Dockins was hit by a pitch and scored. Hayes had a hit and Steenbergen a sacrifice bunt.

Sluggers 11, Glasgow 3
The second straight tournament championship began the following weekend at Scottsville on July 9. Nash, Shifflett, Cartas and Basham scored a pair of runs apiece. The first three batters in the order walked eight times with Cartas being handed a free pass all four times he came to the plate. Aftter Nash, Shifflett and Cartas had walked to start the seventh, Harper doubled. Basham had two hits, Shifflett doubled and Jackson and Hayes each got a hit.

Jackson gave up just 5 hits on a 99-pitch, 7-inning complete game. He walked only two Scotties.

Sluggers 8, Bearcats 3
With three of the players also involved in the state Babe Ruth Tournament, some additional subs were used, including 13-year-old Matt Harper and Cole Tynes. Harper got a hit after replacing Cartas, who had singled, walked and scored. Basham was hit by a pitch, singled and scored before leaving.

Wills tripled, singled and scored. Both Hayes and Shifflett had 2 hits and scored. Also getting a hit was Nash, and Jackson had a sacrifce bunt. Shifflett and Nash pitched the win.

Sluggers 11, Warren East 3
Playing without Basham, Miller and Cartas didn't stop the win streak. The bottom of the order came through with Hayes, Steenbergen and Tynes scoing a pair of runs each. Nash also scored twice.

The second inning was big with five Sluggers scoring. Hayes singled and then Steenbergen hit a 2-run homer. Tynes was hit by a pitch, Nash walked and Shifflett hit an RBI single. With two outs, Dockins singled in 2 runs. Wills was hit by a pitch on a full count, but he and Dockins were stranded.

Dockins singled for the second time to lead off the sixth. Wills, who reached in all 4 of his plate appearances, was hit by a pitch, and Jackson squeezed in Dockins. Hayes singled, Steenbergen reached on an error, and the game ended on the 8-run rule when Matt Harper reached on an error, allowing Hayes to score.

Steenbergen had 3 hits, including the homer, in the game played at the Esat field.

Dockins pitched the win efficiently, needing only 72 pitches in six innings. He gave up only 3 hits, 2 walks and 2 hit batsmen.

Sluggers 6, Bearcats 4
In this semifinal game, the Sluggers scored 4 runs in the fourth and held on for the win. In that inning, Jackson reached on an error, Hayes singled, Steenbergen doubled, Tynes and Matt Harper both reached on errors, Nash singled in a run, and Shifflett hit a sacrifice fly.

Wills had singled and scored on Steenbergen's hit in the second. In the third, Shifflett got a hit with two outs and Ryan Harper tripled him in. The Sluggers loaded the bases in the sixth with Steenbergen walking, Tynes singled and Nash walked, but they were left on base.

Tynes was the strating pitcher and Jackson finished the game on the mound.

Sluggers 12, Kentucky Colonels
For decades, the top players in the area tried to be selected to play on the Colonels, but this championship victory was the third time this summer the Sluggers had beaten the Bowling Green-based Colonels. Wills sored 3 runs, Shifflett, Ryan Harper, Dockins and Jackson scored twice each.

Wills hit a 2-run homer in the first and then added 2 RBI hits. All of Jackson's 3 hits brought in runs, including his 2-RBI double in the second. Ryan Harper had already driven in a pair of runs in the inning. Shifflett had 2 hits and 2 stolen bases.

Nash pitched the win. He gave up 4 runs on 4 hits in the first and then needed only 52 pitches in the final 4 innings to get the win. He didn't walk a batter.

Sluggers 3, Bearcats 1
This was the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at Greenwood on July 24, and the team was still without Miller, Cartas and Basham, who were playing in the state Babe Ruth Tournament, which they won.

Two of the runs scored in the second. Dockins, singled, Wills doubled, Jackson walked and Kent Smith singled. In the fifth, Shifflett reached on an error, Seth Washington singled, and Shifflett scored on Ryan Harper's grounder. Harper's third inning double had been wasted. Smith had 2 hits.

Jackson pitched a 1-hitter over 5 innings. He struck out 4 and walked 2.

Sluggers 10, Bearcats 5
Six runs scored in the Sluggers' fourth inning. Smith led off with a single before Nash doubled him home, stole third and scored on Shifllett's sacrifice fly. Washington was hit by a pitch, Ryan Harper walked, and Dockins hit a 2-run double. Wills singled him in, and Jackson singled Wills home.

In the first inning Nash and Shifflett walked to start the game, Harper sacrificed in a run, and Dockins had an RBI single. Two more runs scored in the final inning when Shifflett tripled, Washington was hit by a pitch and Harper doubled them both in. Dockins and Wills each had 2 hits and were on base 3 times.

Nash was the starting pitcher in this 17th straight win, and Shifflett finished the game on the mound.