The new Logan County High School Baseball Boosters will throw out their first public pitch Friday and hope to hit a home run in gaining support for the highly successful team.
The recently formed Baseball Boosters will host their first Boosters Banquet on Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Commons Area. A complimentary meal of Roy's BBQ will be provided for anyone interested in learning how they can help support the baseball program.
Two guest speakers with deep ties to the program are scheduled to speak.
David Billingsley was named the first head baseball coach at LCHS and served in that capacity for nine years, compiling 144 wins, including 20 in the postseason. Cougar baseball was an instant success. Billingsley’s teams won the district championship their first four years of existence, and six of the first eight. His 1989 Cougars won the school’s first regional championship and then won a state tournament game.
Billingsley was inducted into the Cougar Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame Friday along with others who were part of the 1984 boys basketball team which won the state. Bryson Price, who played on his first boys basketball team at Lewisburg High School as well as baseball, made the presentation. Billingsley also helped the late Stumpy Baker coach the football Cougars to their first two district championships.
Billingsley became head of the state’s vocational/technology centers before he retired.
Former Major Leaguer Mark Thompson, who was ‘discovered’ while pitching for Billingsley’s Cougars in the state tournament, also will speak. He pitched three years for the University of Kentucky where he was named pitcher of the year before becoming the second-ever draft pick of the Colorado Rockies. He was the Rockies’ first player of the year and then spent six seasons in the major leagues, five with the Rockies and one with the St. Louis Cardinals. He also spent a year in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He later coached in the Rockies minor leagues.
Current Cougar Coach Ethan Meguiar played on that 1989 state quarterfinalist team with Billingsley as his coach and Thompson his teammate. He is beginning his 21st season as coach of his alma mater. The former Campbellsville University player has coached the Cougars for 639 games, compiling a 394-245 record. His Cougars have won nine district championships plus a regional championship and a regional runner-up trophy. Seventeen of his 20 teams have made it to region.
Great excitement is justified for this upcoming season. The Cougars set a program record last year with 29 wins, although this may have been the youngest LCHS team ever. One of the veterans, Jackson Campbell, has already signed to play catcher for Belmont University. He’s the sixth college catcher Meguiar has coached, joining Jon Gregory, Chris Cartas, Chad Taylor. Dustin Cartas and Ian Woodall.
Meguiar and Booster President Jon Barrow will also speak. Shane Hayes and Gerald Printing will have Cougar Baseball apparel for sale.
Meguiar says about Friday’s banquet, “Memorabilia and great pictures of years gone by will also be available for your enjoyment. Exciting things are happening with the LCHS baseball program and you can find out the latest! So, tell a friend and come out to enjoy a complimentary meal and learn how you can support our local young people!”