It wasn’t quite General Sherman marching through Georgia, but the Logan County Cougars laid waste to 14th District baseball teams during a three-day period last week.
After beating Greenwood in three extra innings Tuesday (see the story on The LoJo at http://www.theloganjournal.com/Stories.aspx?Article=sports800 ), Coach Ethan Meguiar’s team edged Warren Central 2-1 at home Wednesday before beating Bowling Green 4-3 Thursday.
Seniors Michael Riley and Jordan Hendrix were the key figures in the win over Central. Riley, the most experienced of the Cougars, doubled in both runs in the second inning and then picked up the save by pitching the seventh in relief of winning pitcher Hendrix.
Sophomore Bradley Taylor, who joined Riley in getting two hits and in doubling, scored one of the runs with D.J. Beard also scoring. Kaleb Justice and Hunter Crafton picked up the only other Cougar hits. Austin Rayno, Jackson Campbell and Ashton Ross each walked off Dragon pitcher Austin Marciw, who went the distance, striking out seven Cougars.
Hendrix, who will sign to play baseball for Lindsey Wilson College Wednesday, only allowed one run on two hits and three walks. He also struck out seven batters. Three-fourth of his pitches were strikes. Riley walked one batter but didn’t allow a hit in recording the save.
The only hits by Coach Adam Biler’s Dragons came from Tanner Clark and Logan Bell, who drove in Clark with Central’s only run.
Then on Thursday, Bowling Green, ranked 7th in the state, was unable to fight back from the big hole it dug itself into against Logan County, and the Cougars won 4-3. After falling behind by three runs in the sixth inning. Bowling Green scored two runs in the seventh on a two-run double by Riley Hogan. Still, Bowling Green couldn't draw even.
The Cougars were led by a flawless day at the dish by Riley, who went 4-4 against Purple pitching. He doubled in the fourth inning and singled in the first, second, and sixth innings.
Sophomore pitcher Ethan Smock kept contact to a minimum, striking out six BGH batters. Smock allowed only one earned run on four hits and three walks over five innings. Luke Brown took the loss for Bowling Green. He lasted just four innings, walked one, struck out two, and allowed three runs.
Logan County closer Nick Wooden put away the final six outs to record the save.
The lead stayed with the Cougars after the first, when they scored two runs on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly by Taylor. Logan County scored one run in the fourth inning, and then followed it up with one more in the sixth.
Campbell and Taylor each had two hits, joining Riley with all eight of the winners’ hits. Riley scored three runs with Rayno accounting for the other. Rayno reached three times on two BGH errors and a walk while Dylan Penick and Wooden each got on via other errors.
Taylor, Campbell and Justice picked up an RBI each. Taylor, Penick and Riley each stole a base. Rayno and Justice managed the only two Cougar walks.
Hogan had two hits for Coach Dan Mosier’s Purples with Ethan Wilson, Luke Brown, Justin Gentry and Reed Begley adding one each. Begley homered and Hogan doubled.