With Caleb Bruner pitching six scoreless innings, the Logan County Cougars beat the visiting Russellville Panthers 4-0 Wednesday in not only the first Clash of the Cats of the season but also the first district baseball encounter.

Coach Greg Shelton’s Panthers managed only one hit, that coming from Colby Nichols. Jordan Blick, Corey Wright and Logan Hannah drew walks. Wright was hit by a pitch and Desmon Quarles reached on a fielder’s choice.

Bruner issued the three walks but struck out 13 Panthers. Matt Harper pitched a scoreless, hitless inning and struck out all three Panthers he faced, so the two juniors combined on a 1-hit, 16-strikeout jewel.

Senior Zack Denney pitched for RHS. He gave up seven hits and two walks in six innings while striking out two Cougars.

Joe Holliday doubled in the first inning and singled in the second for Logan, and he walked and was hit by a pitch in his other two plate appearances. Daniel Beaty also doubled and singled, and Hunter Britt added the team’s third double. Also getting hits for the Cougars were Ian Woodall and Jacob Wood. Tucker Baldwin and Michael Riley joined Holliday in walking. Holliday, Britt, Wood and Baldwin were credited with the RBIs. Riley reached a second time on an error, and Jackson Campbell stole a base.

All 10 members of the 2010 Logan County Little League All-Stars who reached the Little League World Series played in this game. They were Barrett Croslin, Denney and Quarles of Russellville, and Bruner, Harper, Beaty, Holliday, Wood, Baldwin and Woodall of Logan County.

Others who saw action in this Clash were Jose Arostegui of Logan and Jacob Procter, Wes Stratton and Jason Mitchell of RHS.

Coach Ethan Meguiar’s defending regional champions broke out of a slump and ran their record to 3-3. They had scored only one run in their previous three games. Russellville’s record fell to 0-7, but the previous five losses had been by a single run.