From Greg Owens, RHS Sports Historian and classmate, teammate and childhood friend of Kelly Russell:
“Itis that time of the year again and we are hosting the 12th Annual Kelly Russell Classic this weekend. Coach Davenport and Coach Whittaker have put together our largest field yet. Baseball will begin Friday at 6 p.m. with Logan County playing Ohio County. A total of 13 teams will be playing this weekend with 11 playing on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. As usual the great people at Roy's Bar B Que will be feeding the teams around noon on Saturday at the indoor facility behind the softball field. Looking forward to another great weekend of baseball, softball and fellowship at RHS as we remember our dear friend, classmate and teammate!”
The Russellville Lady Panthers will open the softball side of the event against Clarksville Kenwood, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
At the same time, the baseball Panthers will take on Metcalfe County at Kelly Russell Field. The Hornets are 2-5. Russellville will be trying for its second win in a row after dropping the first four games of the season.
Kelly Russell died after being struck by a baseball during warmups before a regional game at Bowling Green High School. His funeral was held in deGraffenried Auditorium the same weekend as his fellow members of the RHS Class of ’74 graduated. He was planning to play baseball for Murray State University.
Event organizers say, “Since 1974 a scholarship in Kelly's name has been awarded to a deserving senior at RHS. To continue this great service, we ask that anyone wanting to donate, please by send your contribution the Kelly Russell Scholarship at First Southern National Bank, PO Box 118, Russellville, KY 42276 or just see one of us this weekend!”