In a day to remember and cherish, Coach Ethan Meguiar’s Logan County Cougars won a pair of games Saturday, including one over archrival Franklin-Simpson, to capture the Class 2A Sectional championship. That entitles them to a berth in the state tournament April 25 at Owensboro Apollo.
Playing on their home field, the Cougars opened the day with a 10-0 shutout of Hart County. They scored those 10 runs on 10 hits, seven walks, four batters being hit by pitches, and three stolen bases while striking out just twice.
Meanwhile, Drew McLellan pitched a three-hit shutout, walking three and striking out five in five innings.
The big inning was the third when the Cougars scored seven runs. McLellan doubled in three runs, and TySean Thomeczek doubled in two during that inning. Tripp Wadlington singled in a run, and Mason Hancock got an RBI on a bases-loaded walk.
EJ Walker stroked an RBI double in the second. Then after a Raider error, he scored on Wadlington’s single.
Brady Hinton had three hits, was hit by a pitch and stole two bases. Tate McLean singled, walked and stole a base. Hancock and Thomeczek each stole a base to go along with their hit. Hancock’s was a double. Thomeczek and Walker scored twice. Hunter Holloway and Noah Mosley each walked with Holloway also being hit by a pitch and scoring. Bryar Gaddis and Colin Wetton scored as courtesy runners.
Brayden Minor took the loss for Hart County Raiders. The starting pitcher went two and one-third innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits, striking out two and walking three. Gage Owens, Bryson Huff, and Colton Collins each collected one hit for Hart County.
Cougars 7, Franklin-Simpson 3
Brady Hinton continued his monster day at the plate. Once again, he went three for three plus a walk. One of the hits was a home run and another a double; he drove in two runs and scored twice. Hinton hit a home run to left field in the fifth inning, doubled in the third inning, and singled in the seventh inning. He finished the day six for six.
Thomeczek also was tough on Wildcats pitching, homering and singling for two RBIs and scoring a run. He also pitched an inning of relief. He had three hits, four RBIs and three runs scored in the two games.
Gaddis scored two runs and Hancock one.
McLean was the winning pitcher, working six innings and allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out eight.
The Cougars opened the scoring in the first when Mosley hit a sacrifice fly. Franklin’s Carson Kelley doubled down the right field line, tying the game at one in the bottom of the first.
Logan took the lead in the top of the third inning after McLellan doubled to centerfield for an RBI, and the Wildcats committed an error, allowing McLellan to score. Hinton homered to left field for two runs in the top of the fifth.
Brady Delk homered to center field, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth for the Franklin-Simpson Wildcats. That ended the F-S scoring.
Thomeczek homered to left field, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth for the Logan County Varsity Cougars.
Jordan Brandon took the loss for the Wildcats. The righty went six innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits, striking out four and walking one.