DAWSON HALL GETS START FOR PURPLES; GOAD ON THE HILL FOR EAST
Bowling Green High School’s baseball team took a big step toward getting back to the KHSAA state tournament on Monday night, turning back a dogged Logan County squad 11-8 in Russellville in the 4th Region Tournament.
Warren East also won its KHSAA 4th Region quarterfinal, stopping Franklin-Simpson 8-2 to set up Tuesday’s semifinal matchup with Clinton County (16-11).
The Raiders (23-13) used a steady pitching performance from right-hander Chase Carver and collected 11 hits, to Franklin-Simpson’s three, to win their game in decisive fashion.
East coach Wes Sanford said via text message that he’d be starting junior left-hander Turner Goad in Tuesday night’s nightcap at WKU’s Nick Denes Field. Goad has made seven appearances this season for the Raiders, all but one in a starting capacity, and he’s compiled a 2-1 record with a 5.09 ERA.
Sanford will also have senior right-hander Austin Comer (5-1, 2.89 ERA) available, but it’s likely that he hopes to start Comer in Wednesday’s championship game against Bowling Green or Russell County.
Clinton County slipped past 15th District champion Glasgow, claiming a 2-1 victory on the Scotties’ home field on Monday night. Clinton County is expected to start senior right-hander Blake Melton (2-1, 6.06 ERA) against the Raiders.
Bowling Green senior Dawson Hall, the Purples’ starter against Russell County, has given his team a sturdy presence in their starting pitching. Hall, a right-hander who plans to pitch at WKU next season, has gone 7-2 with a 3.64 ERA this season.
Sanford and BGHS coach Nathan Isenberg realize pitching plans can change, but the Purples and Raiders seem to be on kind of a collision course toward the championship game.
Bowling Green swept the Raiders in regular-season play, but Warren East turned the tables in the KHSAA 14th District championship game, winning 4-3 at South Warren High School.
Russell County (26-6) earned its berth in the semifinals with a 5-1 victory over Barren County High School on Monday night.\
