Two highly anticipated matchups featuring South Warren vs. Franklin-Simpson and Logan County vs. Bowling Green highlight the opening round of the Region 4 baseball tournament, which begins Monday at WKU’s Nick Denes Field.
The Spartans (24-11) — who captured the District 14 championship with a 2-1 win over Bowling Green — and the District 13 runner-up Wildcats (24-11) met twice in the final week of the regular-season. South Warren won 9-8 on May 14 in Franklin, while Franklin-Simpson took a 10-6 win in eight innings five days later to split.
With the familiarity between both teams, they pretty much know what to expect from one another.
“I don’t if I’d call it great,” South Warren coach Chris Gage said of having to play Franklin-Simpson in the first round. “That’s probably the worst we could’ve (drew) as far as familiarity with each other. You’d like to play someone that doesn’t know you quite as well. But our programs work together really well. It’s such a good program.
“It’s not what you’re looking for in the first round.”
Alongside that contest, the nightcap between Logan County and Bowling Green should be another barnburner.
The Cougars (24-8) — champions of District 13 — and the District 14 runner-up Purples (18-11) also collided twice in the regular-season, with those two tilts also resulting as splits. Logan County opened the season with a 6-2 win in Russellville, while Bowling Green dominated in a 13-3 victory on April 9.
“You knew being a two seed you had a good chance to probably face Logan,” Bowling Green coach Matt Myers said. “I know (Logan County coach) Ethan (Meguiar)’s team is playing really well right now offensively, and they’ve got their arms. It’ll be a big challenge for us, but we’ll be ready for it.”
South Warren and Franklin-Simpson are scheduled to meet at 12:15 p.m., while Logan County and Franklin-Simpson play in the nightcap at 6:15 p.m. The other two quarterfinal matchups include Russell County (24-7) vs. Monroe County (15-7) at 10 a.m. and Barren County (15-14) vs. Cumberland County (6-23) at 4 p.m.
“The history between Bowling Green and Logan and Franklin and South Warren makes for some great first-round games,” Myers said.
Region 4 baseball tournament 
at Nick Denes Field, Western Kentucky University
Monday’s games
Russell County vs. Monroe County, 10 a.m.
South Warren vs. Franklin-Simpson, 12:15 p.m.
Barren County vs. Cumberland County, 4 p.m.
Logan County vs. Bowling Green, 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday’s games
Semifinals, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Wednesday’s game
Championship, 6 p.m.
–Senior writer Tyler Mansfield can be reached at mansfield.sportingtimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @TMansfieldST.–
