Manager Greg Meacham's team has experience, talent, a favorable draw, a guaranteed berth in the state tournament, and perpetual home field advantage on its side.
By mid-spring, it was already known that the team would be returning to state after finishing as state runner-up last year. By being named the host site for a state tournament, Logan County's team was guaranteed a berth in the tourney field, regardless of how it fares in the district. It was quickly decided that plum assignment would go to the 14s, who also got to play their district at home last years as 13s.
The pairings which Logan drew for next week's district tournament enhance the 14s chances of getting a good seed at state.
This is only in a three-team district among the 14s, and Logan drew a bye. That means that Franklin-Simpson and Warren County will have been forced to use their best pitchers before Logan ever plays. Meacham will have his ace, John Kenner, available.
Added to Logan's chances is the experience on this all-star team. Greg Meacham was the coach of the Russellville Little League team which went to state two years ago. Players from that team with this all-star group are Blake Meacham, Zack Knuckles and Travis Hooper.
They were also members of that state runner-up team last year, as were Kenner, Kyle Lyons, Chad Taylor and Zack Higginbotham.
Four of the players also gained valuable experience as members of the LCHS high school baseball team. They were Taylor, Meacham, Kenner and Higginbotham.
Becoming part of this special all-star team this year are Kyle Epley, Clay Houchens, Timmy Lockhart, Kyle Pedigo and Ben Vaughn.
Meacham and board member Jerry Kenner return as coaches from that state finalist team, along with David Taylor, who was head coach of the team last year. This year he accepted the position of league president. In that capacity, he secured a state host role for Logan. Board member Tracy Knuckles is the other coach.
With three of the six board members parents of 14-year-olds, it was pretty certain the 14s would be the team who became the state hosts.
Everything has come up roses for what appears to be a team of destiny.
That Franklin-Warren County game in the District 3 Tournament will be Tuesday, July 8 at 6:30, at LCHS. Logan will open action the following night against the winner. The losers' bracket finals will be Friday with the first championship game Saturday, July 12, starting at 5 p.m. A second finals would be played afterwards if needed in this double elimination tournament.
n The 13-year-olds join the 14s in one advantage. They, too, are in a three-team district. They didn't get the bye, however, and they don't get to play at home. They have a fairly long trip to Warren East High School, and they'll have to go there three different days to go to state.
Coach Artis Stratton's team will play Warren County at 6:30 p.m. on July 9. If they win, they'll face Franklin-Simpson at 6:30 Thursday. A loss would put them in the losers' bracket finals Friday, July 11 at 6:30.
Finals for this tournament will be played Sunday, July 13 at 3 p.m. A second championship game will be played immediately afterwards, if necessary.
The team consists of Cobey Adler, Lucas Gilliam, Tyler Johnson, Drew Neel, Tyler Porter, Trent Price, Cory Richmond, Zack Smith, Tyler Spain, David West, Seth Whittaker and Cory Yates.
The 13-year-old team is solid throughout its 12 players and has enough pitching to contend for a berth at state.
The state tournament for 13-year-olds will be in Owensboro.
n The 15-year-olds have been a tough-luck group from the beginning of their Babe Ruth careers, and they got no breaks this time either. Not only were they not the ones to get the home state tournament but they are in the only age group with four team in their district.
Todd County is fielding one all-star team, and since there are some 15-year-olds on it, they're competing as 15s by combining the best players from their two regular season teams. They have two excellent pitchers in Jerrad Tabb and John William Stokes, and some other capable pitchers.
So for the 15s to go to state, they'll have to win three straight games or four of five.
On the other hand, this team is going into district play with a much more positive attitude than they've had the past two years. Their coaches-- Manager Nicky Boisseau along with Gordon Taylor and Jeff Pedigo-- believe in them and they're working them like a team they think can win. The players are responding favorably to the confidence being shown in them.
Seven of the players are Babe Ruth All-Stars for the third straight year. They are Andrew Clark, Trey Turner, Shawn Cross, Keenan Brown, Shaun Taylor, Travis Morgan and P.J. Gibbs. Sean Brown and Chris Ward also have Babe Ruth All-Star experience.
Helping bring new life to the team are Cody Pedigo (who played high school ball this year, as did Ward, Clark and Gibbs), Keith Strader and George Patton Jr.
Logan opens 15-year-old play at Franklin-Simpson High School against Warren County at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 7. Todd County and Franklin play the nightcap.
A win would have them playing on Tuesday at 8 p.m. while a loss would send them into the 5:30 losers' bracket game that night.
The losers bracket finals will be played Thursday, July 10 at 6:30. The final will be Saturday, July 11 at 5:30 with a second game to follow if necessary.
The 15-year-old state tournament will be played at Louisville Germantown.
n Tickets are priced for all district games are $3.
Tim Hooper is to be manager of the District 13 14-year-old Tournament.
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