Young players were deeply involved in Logan County Cougars’ season-opening win over Greenwood Tuesday in a game that went 10 innings before Coach Ethan Meguiar’s team won 7-6.
Freshman Third Bell doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, making freshman reliever Dylan Penick the winning pitcher.
Freshmen Koby Wall and Tommy Krohn also played in the season opener, as did sophomores Kaleb Justice and Bradley Taylor. Bell drove in two runs on a pair of hits. Penick pitched the final two innings, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out three.
Senior Hunter Crafton was the opening day starter on the mound. He gave up four runs on two hits and five walks in four innings. He struck out two. Junior D.J. Beard worked the next four frames. He allowed a pair of runs on a hit and three walks. He struck out five. Penick didn’t relinquish a run in his two hits. He gave up a hit and two walks while fanning a trio of Gators.
Beard went three for three at the plate, singling in the first, fifth and tenth innings. He scored two runs and drove in two. Taylor also had three hits and scored a run.
Junior catcher Jackson Campbell doubled in senior Michael Riley with one of the runs. They are the team’s most experienced varsity players, following heavy hits to graduation the past two years.
In the first inning, Taylor scored on a walk by Crafton, Campbell and Justice scored on a two-run single by Beard, and Jack Wright scored on a sacrifice fly by Ashton Ross.
Taylor stole two bases with Penick and Ross picking up one each.
Jason Hicks doubled for the Gators’ only extra-base hit. He also walked three times. Mac Ausbrooks got a hit and walked twice. Tyler Cunningham also walked twice.
Coach Jason Jaggers used five Gator pitchers with Clayton Mattison taking the loss. Starter Caleb Miller lasted for only two outs.