A Primer on Some of the Region’s Top Pitchers This Spring
By Perry Swack
Greg Maddux once said, “The best pitchers have short-term memory and bullet-proof confidence.” The Hall of Fame pitcher knew a thing or two about pitching: he won 355 games and was a four-time Cy Young Award winner and 18-time Gold Glove recipient. After having their 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19, the pitchers in the 4th Region have come out firing on all cylinders: pitching with both short-term memory and bullet-proof confidence. Today we will highlight some of the top pitchers in the area and let you know what helps them stand out from the pack.
Ben Banton, Franklin-Simpson
The only player on this list who has not started a game, Banton has appeared in five games and posted a record of 2-0 with one save. The Wildcat junior has struck out 14 batters and only given up nine hits in 13 innings pitched. Banton holds an ERA of 1.62 and has allowed only three earned runs on the year.
Matthew Brown, Greenwood
Greenwood’s Matthew Brown is currently ranked third in the state with five wins, holding a 5-0 record and a 1.79 ERA. The senior pitched a complete game two-hitter on Thursday, striking out seven, as the Gators blanked Franklin-Simpson, 4-0. Brown has allowed only 12 hits in 27.1 innings of work and has struck out 34 batters.
Jameson Buie, Barren County
Jameson Buie has only appeared in four games and made three starts, but the junior has a 2-0 record and an ERA of 0.00. He has struck out 14 batters, allowed only seven hits, and 0 earned (or unearned) runs in 15 innings of work. Buie pitched a complete game two-hit shutout on Tuesday as the Trojans defeated their crosstown rivals Glasgow, 3-0.
Cole Bunch, Glasgow
Cole Bunch has had a great start to his senior season, posting a 3-0 record in three starts with a 1.50 ERA. The right-hander has pitched 14.0 innings, allowed only ten hits, three earned runs, and struck out 17 batters. In a season-opening win over Barren County, Bunch pitched four innings and earned the win, allowing only one hit.
Eli Burwash, Bowling Green
Eli Burwash can bring the heat. The senior is second in the region with 44 strikeouts in four starts (4-0 record). His ERA is 1.35 and he has only allowed five earned runs in 26 innings of work. In a complete-game victory over Warren East on Monday, Burwash struck out 14 batters.
Brady Dragoo, Warren East
The 4th Region’s leader in strikeouts, Dragoo has fanned 48 batters in 24.2 innings this season. The senior has allowed only six earned runs on 15 hits and nine walks. He has a 4-1 record and an ERA of 1.70. Dragoo was on the mound for arguably the Raiders biggest win of the season over Greenwood. He struck out 12 in six innings of work as East dispatched of the Gators, 9-2.
Tanner Goad, Warren East
Tanner Goad is 3-0 this season with a 1.98 ERA. In 17.2 innings of work over five appearances, the sophomore has struck out 14 batters and given up 19 hits. Among East pitchers who have started a game, Goad has given up the least amount of earned runs (5).
Jase Hampton, Todd County Central
Sophomore Jase Hampton has been dominant this season on the mound for the Rebels. The pitcher has started four games and won all four with a 0.38 ERA. Hampton has only allowed seven hits in 18.2 innings and struck out 26 batters. His success on the hill has played a major role in Todd’s 12-4 start to the season.
Blake Harlan, Clinton County
Blake Harlan leads the state of Kentucky with a 6-0 record for the Bulldogs. The junior has pitched 34 innings, striking out 35 and only walking eight. Harlan has given up only 11 earned runs and has a 2.26 ERA on the year. He earned arguably the biggest win of the Bulldogs’ season thus far in a 9-6 victory over Glasgow, going the distance on 92 pitches.
Coleman House, South Warren
Coleman House is 4-0 this season with a 3.57 ERA for the 11-3 Spartans. In 17.2 innings of work, the junior has allowed only 15 hits and nine earned runs. He has struck out 17 batters and walked eight. House earned the win over Muhlenberg County in early April, pitching five innings and only allowing two runs while striking out four.
Nathan Lawson, Russell County
Nathan Lawson has allowed 0 earned runs in 26.1 innings of work this season. Opponents have only score two unearned runs with him on the mound. He is 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA – tied for the best in the state. His 36 strikeouts and five walks rank him among the region’s best.
Carson Myers, Bowling Green
Senior Carson Myers has been virtually unhittable this season, allowing only ten hits in 21 innings. The left-hander has struck out 36 batters and has an ERA of 1.00. In his two most recent outings, he has thrown a no-hitter, against Warren Central and Warren East.
Others to Note
Sam Brown, Logan County
Braxton Garner, Greenwood
Colby Huddleston, Cumberland County
Will Kearns, Todd County Central
Brady Key, Bowling Green
Cody Luttrell, Russell County
Cody Moore, Barren County
Cole Wix, Franklin-Simpson
