In June 10 IssueCoach David Rexroat’s Russell County Lakers fell to Warren Central 11-1 in the 4th region title game at Western Kentucky University last week.
“I hated we had to walk off the field more than anything,” Rexroat said. “That’s the last memory those seniors will remember.”
The Dragons got off to a fast start in the first inning, scoring three runs while the Laker bats could not seem to get going.
The Dragons starting pitcher, Shane Waldrop, kept Russell County off the basepaths for most of the game as Central was able to tag on several more runs as the game wore on.
Sophomore Blake Aaron tallied two hits in the game for the Lakers while seniors Jordan Best and Dillon Downey and freshman Tyler Robertson all got one hit in the game. Aaron scored the Lakers only run in the game. The loss ended the season for the Lakers as 4th Region Runner-up after winning the region title a season ago.
“We had a good season,” Rexroat said of this year. “I can’t complain.”
His team was ranked in several state top-25’s throughout the season.
Sophomore Hunter Best led the Lakers with a .519 batting average and 30 RBI while also setting the record for hits in a season by a Laker with 69 hits overall.
Tyler Robertson was 7-0 for Russell County with a 1.04 ERA and 64 strikeouts on the mound this season while Martin Cross went 8-2 on the year.
Russell County, who won the 16th district title over Metcalfe County, ended the season with a 30-9 record, tying the record for most wins in a season by a Laker baseball team with the 1990 team.
“It was an exciting year with a lot of close games coming down to the last few innings,” he said. “They found a way to win.”
Russell County returns several key starters next season in Robertson, Aaron, Cross, Best, Taylor Hutchison, Jared Coffey and Caleb Russell and a more than capable class of current junior varsity players moving up. Rexroat said his team, which lose no pitchers this season, will be competitive next season as well as they work toward improving this offseason.
The Lakers say goodbye to seniors Jordan Best, Dillon Downey, Bryson McFall and Zach Carney.
