Quickness and strong pitching are a deadly combination for baseball opponents.
The Russellville Panthers used both plus solid outfield defense Wednesday on the way to a 9-2 win over Logan County at newly renovated Kelly
Russell Field.
The quickness of middle infielders Andréa Edmonds and D.J. Quarles on offense and outfielders Donovan Harris and Zach Smith on defense were
crucial to the win.
So was the pitching of starter Darrin Murphy and freshman reliever Thomas Shifflett in the first Clash of the Cats of the 2009 diamond season.
Murphy started a little shaky by giving up singles to the game’s first two batters, Logan infielders Ryan Harper and Matt Cook. But he pitched out
of that jam and gave up only three more hits the next four innings.
RHS scored all the runs the home team would need plus one more in the bottom of the first. Quarles singled, Dudley Bouldin walked, and Charleston
Sydnor was hit by a pitch.
Cougar starter Tyler Coleman then struck out Murphy for the second out, but Smith singled to drive in two runs. Shifflett, who joins fellow
freshman Seth Washington as the only new Panther starters this year, singled to drive in Sydnor and Smith. After batting around once, Coach Lou
Kendall’s team led 4-0.
The Panthers added three runs in the fifth inning. Edmonds walked and stole second, Quarles advanced him to third, and Bouldin singled in Edmonds.
Murphy and Quarles executed a squeeze bunt, and Smith got his third RBI when he reached on an error.
Russellville picked up two more runs with two outs in the sixth. Edmonds singled and Quarles singled in Edmonds, who had stolen second for the
third straight time. Bouldin then singled in Quarles, who also has stolen second.
The Cougars scored their first run in the second inning when Brett Sowell singled, and Mark Alan Belcher drove him in on a ground ball to short
that was booted. Robert Allen then hit an 0-2 pitch deep down the left field line for a double that moved Belcher to third. The rally ended when Harris
made a scooping catch of Harper’s fly ball and then doubled off Allen at second.
The other run scored in the third, after two outs. Dustin Lee walked and moved to third on a passed ball and an error when Murphy tried to pick
him off. John Logan Dockins and Sowell reached on back-to-back errors, allowing Lee to score.
Only three Cougar batters reached base in the final four innings. Harper, the freshman shortstop, got his second hit in the third. Murphy then
recorded five innings to end his time on the mound.
Shifflett hit Allen with a pitch with two outs in the sixth, and walked Cook to start the seventh, but otherwise he was perfect.
Harper got two of Logan’s hits with Lee, Sowell and Allen picking up one each.
The three players at the top of the Panther batting order-Edmonds, Quarles and Bouldin-each had 2 hits and 2 runs. Sydnor also scored 2 runs.
Smith scored the other run, had a hit and drove in 3 runs. Murphy and Shifflett also had a hit. Edmonds and Bouldin, who drew the only walks off
Coleman, were both on base three times.
Sophomore Lawton Jackson faced only one batter in relief for Logan, getting Sydnor to force a teammate.
Logan (1-5) is next scheduled to entertain Barren County Friday at 5 p.m. and Butler County Saturday at noon.
Russellville (2-1) will take on Clarksville at 5 p.m. Thursday before playing at Cumberland County in the Class A regional Saturday in the Class A
4th Region Classic.
loganjournal
Former Cougar pitching coach Kyle Wall assisted Coach Ethan Meguiar in the absence of regular pitching coach Mike Hoots, who was absent because of
the death of his father, Larry Hoots, in Cumberland County.