When many of the biggest baseball events in local baseball history have become a reality, Zach Denney has been a part of them. Now he’s hoping to be part of big things on another level in another state.
The recent graduate of Russellville High School is moving on to the college level as a member of the Lincoln Trail Statesmen baseball team. Lincoln Trail is located in Robinson, Ill. and is part of the Illinois Eastern Community College system where some of the most competitive junior college baseball in America is played.
Denney has been a key part of some major moments in local baseball. Consider the following:
*In 2007 he was a member of the Logan County Little League All-Stars who won the league’s first state championship—in the 9-10 age group.
*In 2009, he was a key player for the Logan stars who not only won the state 11-12 championship but also the multi-state region, giving them to one of the greatest accomplishments in local sports history, a berth in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. As the team from the smallest area in the World Series, the players often were shown on ESPN’s world-wide television network.
*In 2010 as an eighth grader, he was a member of the first Russellville baseball team to win the region in 19 years. It still remains the only district title in 23 years.
*In 2011, the freshman outfielder hit a grand slam in the Panthers’ 13-3 win over Todd Central in the Class A regional.
*That summer, Denney stroked a 3-run double as the Southern Kentucky Sluggers upset Beaver Dam Red of Pittsburgh, Penn. in the USSA Super NIT in Ohio. That gave the Sluggers a 4-2 lead, and they won by that score to qualify for the Elite 32 USSSA World Series at Disney World. Manager Kevin Gettings, who had also coached the Little League World Series team, called it “the biggest win in our organization’s history.” Phil Holliday and Chris Bruner were also coaches of that team.
*He was the starting and winning pitcher, when Coach Lou Kendall was honored as he began his final season after 30 years as the Panther coach. Kendall had over 450 wins to his credit.
*Denney had two RBIs in Kendall’s last win, a 14-0 rout of Coach Sam Royse’s Glasgow Sies in the first round of the Fourth Region Tournament in 2012.
*He was the starting pitcher in Kendall’s final game at the Panther helm, a loss to South Warren, on WKU’s Nick Denes Field. The Panthers went 29-10 that year.
In 2013, the legendary Greg Shelton’s first year as the RHS coach, he went four for four with two doubles in a 9-7 win over defending Ohio state champion Reynoldsberg in the Florida Beach Bash. Reynoldsberg may have been as good an opponent as the Panthers have beaten in team history. They were ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
*Denney pitched two complete games in one week that season, throwing a two-hitter in a win over Todd Central and getting a 5-4 victory over always tough Owensboro Senior.
*As a senior, he had two super games against Butler County this year.
From The LoJo: “Senior Zack Denney had a game to relish Thursday as he led the Russellville Panthers past Butler County in the opening game of the Kelly Russell Classic at Kelly Russell Field.
“Denney went four for four at the plate, scored three runs, drove in one, stole two bases, pitched a four-hit win, struck out 11 Bears and walked none, didn’t allow an earned run, and threw 70 strikes and just 20 balls.”
Jo Anne Russell Bennett and her family were there to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of her brother Kelly after being struck down while wearing a Panther baseball uniform.
Then later in the season, also from The LoJo:
“Senior Zach Denney led the way on Senior Night as the Russellville Panthers beat Butler County 5-1 at Kelly Russell Field Thursday, a night in which Greg Shelton’s 900th victory was secured and celebrated.
“Denny pitched a complete game 3-hitter. He walked three Bears, which paled in comparison to his 12 strikeouts. Seven of the strikeouts came on called third strikes. Of his 114 pitches, the strike-ball ratio was 81-33.On offense, Denney went two for three with a home run and a double while scoring two runs and driving in one.”
*In his regular season finale as a Panther, he drove in a run and then scored the tying run on a hit by Colby Nichols in a 6-5 win over Madisonville-North Hopkins.
*His last evening as a Panther baseball player found all 10 members of that Little League World Series team starting for their teams. Barrett Croslin and Desmon Quarles joined him in playing against Franklin-Simpson while Ian Woodall, Joe Holliday, Jacob Wood, Caleb Bruner, Daniel Beaty, Tucker Baldwin and Matt Harper were in the lineup for Logan County against Todd Central.
Woodall, Croslin and Holliday are also now part of college teams, and Bruner has committed to play for Western Kentucky University following the 2015 season.
Denney is the son of Angela and Dale Brooks. His grandmother, Judy Murphy, is also a faithful supporter of his performances on the diamond.