Plagued by unfavorable weather, the Russellville Panthers most likely will be looking for their first win of the baseball season when they entertain Logan County at their new-look field Tuesday.
     The Panthers have played only two official games so far, and the weather doesn’t look good for a scheduled rematch with Fort Campbell Monday.
     RHS is 0-2 after being blasted by the army kids in the season opener and then losing 12-4 at Franklin-Simpson last Tuesday in their district opener.
     “Fort Campbell is very good. We’ve beaten them several times when they weren’t, but this time they are the ones with the better team,” says Coach Lou Kendall, who is beginning his 25^th season as the Panthers’ head coach.
     “We held Franklin to three hits, but we gave up a leadoff single in the sixth inning. They didn’t get another hit, but they scored seven runs in that inning on walks, a hit batsman, and a groundout.”
     The Panthers were leading Hart County 3-2 when the game was stopped because of weather. They had some other winnable opportunities that were washed out.
     Saturday they were going to christen their refurbished field, but Friday’s rain made it impossible to get the playing surface ready by 1 p.m. Kendall told the Paducah Tilghman coach he could have it ready by 3 p.m., but that was too late for the Tornado players, who were ready to go on spring break.
     So if Kelly Russell Field is playable, the first game at the renovated field will appropriately feature Logan County as the opposition. The Cougars were 1-5 after splitting a doubleheader Saturday at home.
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    The Logan Independent Journal will record play-by-play of Tuesday’s game and have it on this website for people to hear in the days following the game. Future Cat Clashes in baseball and softball are also scheduled for replay, Advertisers are welcomed and needed.
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     The Panthers are young but Kendall says, “With eight players back, we’ll definitely be improved over last year.”
     The experience doesn’t include a lot of pitching innings. Only staff ace Darrin Murphy has done much time on the mound. He is a good one, however. Last April 29, he pitched a no-hitter, striking out 11 in a 9-1 win over Todd Central.
     The number two pitcher will probably will be freshman Thomas Shifflett, who also starts in right field. Other people who could pitch are starting infielders Andrae Edmonds and D.J. Quarles along with senior Charleston Sydnor and sophomore Otis Kelly, a transfer student.
     Edmonds is back as a starter for the fourth straight season, and he;s still just a junior. He played second base when he was younger but is now the shortstop
     Also a four-year starter in the outfield is senior Zach Smith, who played right field his first two seasons. He’s in his second year as the centerfielder.
     Senior Donovan Harris is in his third year as the starting leftfielder. He didn’t gave way to a designated hitter in his sophomore year but is in his second year in the batting order.
     Sydnor is one of the team’s most versatile players. He’s at first when Murphy is pitching, but he also plays second and designated hitter, as well as pitching.
     Dudley Bouldin has been on the varsity since junior high. When he was younger he was the designated hitter and backup catcher. Now he’s the third basman.
     Bouldin’s not needed to catch this season because freshman Seth Washington is behind the plate. Washington is the son of former Panther star Darwin Washington, who is one of the assistant coaches. Edmonds’ father Kenneth returns on the coaching staff, too.
     The other starter is second baseman D.J. Quarles, who is one of the school’s best and most versatile athletes. He’s the starting point guard on the basketball team and the quarterback of the football team.
      Bouldin, Smith, Murphy and Harris were also key players on the successful football team. Sydnor joined Quarles on the basketball team.
     Kendall wants the game played as scheduled Tuesday. “I want to pitch Murphy, but if we have to put it off until Wednesday the number of innings he can pitch will be limited, since I want him to be eligible to pitch in the Class A regional tournament this weekend,” he explains.
    The junior varsity game is scheduled to be played first, but Kendall says if only one game can be played because of the weather, it will, of course, be the varsity. He also says he’s willing to switch the game to Logan, if necessary, since the Cougar field dries more quickly.
     Fans visiting Kelly Russell Field will see changes. The dugouts have been replaced for the first time in 40 years, and there’s a new backstop and fencing. In the background, visitors will see the six new tennis courts and get a glimpse of the new track next to the soccer field. They will also see the field house, which is still under construction. Batting cages will be inside it next year