As legendary Kentucky high school baseball coach Greg Shelton draws closer to collecting his 1,000th career win, the longtime skipper is leading Todd County Central High School to marks the Rebels haven’t enjoyed in over a decade.
With a 5-2 victory Monday at McLean County, Todd Central earned its 11h win of the season. The Rebels, who still have 18 regular-season contests on their schedule this year, hadn’t captured double-digit wins in a single season since 2010. TCCHS is now 11-4 on the year.
Their latest W on Monday was thanks in large part to Jase Hampton (4-0), who remained unbeaten on the bump with 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Hampton, who allowed just one hit and three walks, also gave his team its first lead with an RBI fielder’s choice in the second inning.
A pitcher’s duel then commenced until the seventh inning, when Jacob Brandon’s second double of the year drove in a pair and put Todd County Central up 4-0. The Rebels then got an insurance run on a two-out Cougars error on a sharply hit ball by Ty Cortner.
McLean County attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice Grant Lovell’s RBI single and Ayden Rice’s run scored on a wild pitch, but TCCHS reliever Tanner Farmer registered one of his four strikeouts to finish the game and send the Cougars to their fifth straight loss.
Farmer (2-for-3, run) and Brandon (1-for-2, two runs, two RBIs, walk) were the offensive leaders for the hot-hitting Rebels. The duo reached base six times and sent McLean’s Will Logsdon (0-2) to his second loss on the mound.
Todd Central seeks its fourth straight win and plays the first of four straight home games on April 27 against Russellville. The Panthers are scuffling in the midst of a six-game slide.
