Courtesy runner Luke Woodall came home on Caleb Bruner’s fielder’s choice for the winning run in the Logan County Cougars’ 2-1 win over Warren Central Thursday in Bowling Green.
The inning started with pitcher Ryan Basham reaching on an infield error, and Woodall coming in to run for him. Thomas Miller sacrifice bunted him over, and Joe Holliday was hit by a pitch. Gage Hales walked to load the bases, and Woodall scored on the fielder’s choice. It was a rare day in that leading hitter Dustin Cartas not only didn’t get a hit, but he hit into a double play to end the big inning threat.
Basham, who pitched a 5-hit, 1-run complete game, hit Ethan Johnson, the first batter of the seventh inning. Representing the potential tying run, he moved over to second on a bunt. But Basham got Michael Bush to fly out to Cody Hunt at second, and then Luke Hardeman grounded out on a come-backer to Basham on the mound to end the game.
Coach Daniel Thomas’ Dragons opened the scoring in the first inning. Basham hit Bush with a pitch, but the football standout was thrown out trying to steal second. Hardeman walked, moved up on a walk by Jacob Uperdergraff and scored on Drew Herndon’s single. The majority of the baserunners Basham allowed came in that first inning.
The Cougars had scored their first run when Holliday led off the fourth with a single. After a groundout by Hales, Holliday scored when Bruner reached on an error. Both runs scored as a result of Bruner putting the ball in play.
Hales was on base three times as the Cougar leadoff man. He worked the only two walks for his team, and then got one of the team’s three hits, along with Basham and Holliday.
Coach Ethan Meguiar’s Cougars improved their record to 21-10. Central fell to 12-22 going into postseason play.