4th Region Baseball Tournament Preview
By Perry Swack
June 5, 7, 8 – Host Sites for Quarterfinals, WKU for Semifinals & Championship
2019 Champion – South Warren
It was an all-14th District affair in the 2019 region final as South Warren came back from a 4-2 deficit over the course of the final two innings to defeat Bowling Green, 6-5. Trent Rice led the way for the Spartans, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a triple. Cade Vernon pitched seven innings and allowed only two runs in the win. It was South’s first region title since 2015.
Last Five Championship Games
2019 – South Warren over Bowling Green
2018 – Bowling Green over Russell County
2017 – Franklin-Simpson over Logan County
2016 – Bowling Green over South Warren
2015 – South Warren over Bowling Green
Schedule
Quarterfinals – Host Sites
June 5 @ 1:00pm – Clinton County (16-17) @ Bowling Green (31-5)
June 5 @ 1:00pm – Logan County (19-14) @ Glasgow (18-14)
June 5 @ 1:00pm – Barren County (21-10) @ Russell County (29-6)
June 5 @ 1:00pm – Warren East (23-14) @ Franklin-Simpson (20-13)
Semifinals – WKU
June 7 @ 5:30pm – Clinton/BG Winner vs. Logan/Glasgow Winner
June 7 @ 7:45pm – Barren/Russell Winner vs. East/Franklin Winner
Championship – WKU
June 8 @ 6:00pm – Semifinal Winners
Bowling Green (31-5)
How They Can Win
The Purples are the clear-cut favorite to win their third region championship since 2016. They are at their best when they’re smashing hits into the gaps and striking out opponents at the plate. Bowling Green can win the title if they continue to simply do what they have done all season. BG is ranked second statewide in hits with 353 and third in both RBI (283) and runs (340). On the mound the club has struck out the third-most batters in the state at 307 on the season. This team has all the makings of a region title team that can make a deep run in the state tournament.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Everyone is familiar with the Purples’ studs Eli Burwash and Carson Myers; however, Dillon Maners is having an outstanding season as well. The sophomore outfielder is batting a team-best .465 with 44 runs, 40 hits, and 30 RBI.
Clinton County (16-17)
How They Can Win
Clinton County will be a heavy underdog on Saturday afternoon when they visit Bowling Green; however, they will not lie down for any team they face. If they can upset the Purples, then they will have a great chance to make a deep run in the tournament. The recipe for a deep run is in Clinton’s 9-6 win over Glasgow on April 11 – timely hitting and sturdy pitching. Blake Melton produced the team’s only extra-base hit, but Cole Nuetzman knocked in three RBI despite recording only one hit. On the mound Blake Harlan pitched a complete game, allowing only four runs and walking only one batter.
Player to Keep an Eye on
The junior Melton leads the team in runs (32), hits (38), doubles (11), triples (2) and is tied for the team-lead in RBI (25), home runs, and walks (15). He will need a big tournament for the Bulldogs to go far.
Glasgow (18-14)
How They Can Win
The Scotties lost four of five games in mid-May but closed the season winning four of five, including the 15th District title for the first time since 2014. The road to a region title – which would be its first since 2004 – would likely come from several close games. Glasgow has played in 12 games that were decided by two runs or less this season. The Scotties are 6-6 in such games.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Balance has been the name of the game for Sam Royse’s club this year. Six players are batting at least .313 and have at least 33 hits. Cole Stephens leads the team in hits (40), doubles (10), and batting average (.430). In the district championship against Barren County, the senior catcher went a perfect 4-for-4 as the Scotties prevailed, 8-7.
Logan County (19-14)
How They Can Win
Logan County put together a nine-game win streak to begin the month of May; however, the Cougars faded down the stretch and went 3-6 over the course of the season’s final two weeks. If the club is to make a deep run in the region tournament, it will need to put together some strong hitting performances. Ethan Meguiar’s club ranks among the state leaders in both doubles and home runs. If they can find their touch, they can certainly make some noise.
Players to Keep an Eye on
Macon Barrow has been a wrecking machine at the plate this season. The senior is second in the state in doubles with 18 and eleventh in hits with 50. He knocked in five runs in the district tournament alone and will be called upon to deliver starting on Saturday against Glasgow.
Russell County (29-6)
How They Can Win
The team next best suited to take home the crown behind the Purples would have to be the Lakers from Russell County. Although the Lakers lost an early-season road game at the Purples (5-3), David Rexroat’s team has been outstanding all season. They closed the season with eleven wins in their final twelve games and are as hot as any team in the field. If they play their game, they will be standing on Tuesday night. Ranking side-by-side with Bowling Green in nearly every statistical hitting category, the Lakers also have had lights-out pitching and fielding. Russell has only given up 108 runs, tops in the 4th Region.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Among the region’s top talents, Nathan Lawson leads RCHS at the plate with 48 hits, 50 RBI, 14 doubles, 8 home runs, and is batting .444. He is also 7-0 on the mound with a 1.66 ERA, 84 strikeouts, and only 14 earned runs in 59 innings pitched. Lawson has the game to be the tournament’s most outstanding player.
Barren County (21-10)
How They Can Win
Barren County had an outstanding regular season putting together four separate win streaks of at least three games and tied Glasgow for the district’s top record at 5-1. The Trojans were led on the mound by the duo of Blake Cook and Cody Moore as Cook went 6-2 with an ERA of 2.13 and 45 strikeouts while Moore went 6-0 with 31 Ks and an ERA of 3.37. Blake Crabtree’s club will rely on the outstanding mound work from those two guys if they are going to make a deep run.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Brennan Hicks leads Barren in hits (44), doubles (9), and batting average (.431). He is also a perfect 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts this season. The junior catcher went 3-for-4 in a late-season win over Clinton County. Nights like that will be needed for Hicks and the Trojans.
Warren East (23-14)
How They Can Win
Although South Warren had a better overall record and higher KHSAA RPI, the Raiders of Warren East had the Spartans’ number in 2021. Wes Sanford’s crew swept South in the regular season and then beat them 9-5 in the district semifinals to qualify for the region tournament. Nolan Ford came up huge in that game, going 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, a triple, and four RBI. Ranked among the state’s best in hits, runs, and doubles, the Raiders will need to keep pounding the ball to make a deep run in the 4th Region Tournament. The club is more than capable of reaching the state tournament and would be more than deserving if they beat Franklin-Simpson, Russell County, and Bowling Green in the process.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Brady Dragoo has had a phenomenal season on the mound for the Raiders, going 7-1 with 76 strikeouts and only allowing 12 earned runs in 47.2 innings pitched with a 1.76 ERA. I am interested to see how the senior flamethrower performs on the highest stage. I expect a huge bounce-back performance after allowing five runs in the district semifinal game with South where he picked up the no-decision.
Franklin-Simpson (20-13)
How They Can Win
Franklin-Simpson (2017) is the only team outside of the 14th District to win the region baseball title since Logan County did in 2013. The 4th Region athletic directors recently named Dalton Fiveash their player of the year for 2021. The senior leads the region – and is among the state leaders – in batting average (.506) and slugging percentage (.886). Fiveash is also 5-1 on the mound with 75 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA. Franklin closed the season winning eight of its final ten games and are primed for a deep postseason run.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Fiveash is rightfully honored with praise, but don’t look past the talents of Cole Wix. The senior leads the club in hits (44), RBI (31), and doubles (15). He is also batting .436 and is among the state’s leaders in doubles. In the region tournament-clinching win over Russellville, Wix went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI to lead the Wildcats.
