Senior Cody Luttrell had his number called to pitch as the Russell County Lakers took on the Beechwood Tigers in the state quarterfinals on Saturday.
Luttrell delivered with a performance to be remembered: a complete-game shutout while giving up just four hits and striking out eight against a Beechwood squad that entered with the highest team-batting average in the state, the second-most hits, and averaged more than 9 runs per game.
Luttrell’s performance led the Lakers to a 1-0 win to advance to the state semifinals where they’ll take on 8th Region Champion Woodford County.
The Lakers lone run came in the second inning after Issac Roy and Nick Aaron strung together a pair of hits, and pinch runner Alex Reynolds scored from third on a sacrifice bunt by Evan Hammond.
The bunt proved to be the difference in the game, as Luttrell and the Lakers put together a strong pitching and defensive performance to give the Lakers the win.
Roy and Aaron helped pace the Laker offense with two hits each, while Nathan Lawson and Evan Hammond each contributed a double.
Russell County will take on Woodford County at 11:30 a.m. CT on Friday at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington.
