Four seniors and three juniors are in the starting lineup most games for the Logan County Lady Cougars, but Coach Michael Crawford is also using two freshmen regularly while an upperclassman and a younger player are sharing each of a couple of positions.
So the Lady Cougars are working at blending experience with an abundance of youth in Crawford’s second season as the softball team’s bench boss.
Highly experienced players include senior leftfielder Rebecca Dezarn, senior centerfielder Jonique Smtih, senior second baseman Megan Griggs, junior third baseman Madison Abbott, junior catcher Victoria Cates and junior pitcher Shelby Milam. Not only are they returning starters, but Abbott, Cates, Dezarn and Griggs were also starters on the highly successful volleyball team.
Sharing second base are senior Shelby Browning and sophomore Molly Wharton while junior Hannah Moore and freshman Cierra Johnson are the primary rightfielders.
The freshmen starters are shortstop Sierra Morrow and designated hitter Taylor Borders. Another two freshmen, pitcher Megan Ferguson and catcher Reagan Cole, have also seen varsity action.
Abbott leads the team in plate appearances with 19 and at bats with 17. Griggs has 18 plate appearances and 16 at bats while Dezarn and Smith have 16 of each. Borders and Morrow have joined them in appearing in all six games.
Against UHA, Abbott got 3 hits while Browning and Smith had 2 each and Dezarn 1. Griggs and Johnson each walked. Abbott, Johnson and Morrow all scored. On the season Abbott has 6 hits, Cates and Dezarn 5 each, Griggs 4, and Morrow and Smith 3 each. Cates has 6 RBIs with Johnson and Griggs driving in 3 each. Johnson has the only homer. Abbott has scored 7 runs, Johnson 4 and Morrow 3.
The Lady Cougars are still working on improvement. They are 0-6 and have been outscored 75-21. The losses, in order, are to Barren County, South Warren, Madisonville-North Hopkins, Elizabethtown, Clinton County and University Heights.
The junior varsity team beat University Heights Thursday. Ferguson pitched and Wharton homered.
The only game on this week’s schedule during spring break is at Butler County Monday.