The Russell County Laker baseball team dominated in its Opening Day matchup, picking up a 12-2 victory against the Barren County Trojans (2-2) on Saturday, March 19.
It was slow going for the Lakers to start the game, and Russell County trailed 2-1 going into the third inning.
The Lakers turned the game around quickly, though, adding six runs in the third inning to take a 7-2 lead.
Aidan Antle led the inning off with a line-drive single to center field and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. After Nathan Lawson was intentionally walked, Antle scored on an Isaac Roy single.
A Nick Aaron single scored Lawson, and an Evan Hammond double to left field brought in Alex Reynolds, who was used as a courtesy runner for Roy.
Maxon Gosser drew a walk to load the bases, and Cody Luttrell drew another walk to score Aaron.
Antle, who started the scoring barrage in the third inning, drove in Hammond for the final run of the third inning.
Luttrell struck out all three Barren County batters in the top of the fourth, and the Lakers’ offense picked up right where it left off.
Two-run homers by Hammond and Mayes Gosser — his first-ever hit as a varsity Laker — drove in four more runs, and Reynolds scored on an Aaron single to give the Lakers a 12-2 lead.
The game was called due to the 10-run rule after the top of the fifth inning.
On the mound, Luttrell put on an impressive display. Luttrell was subbed in for Antle 2 2/3 innings in and proceeded to strike out six of the seven batters he faced, allowing no runs or hits in 2.1 innings of work. Antle also recorded a strikeout to give the Lakers seven total on the day.
Hammond had three hits, three runs, and three RBI, all of which led the Lakers at the plate.
As a team, the Lakers produced 11 hits and drew seven walks.
