Nathan Lawson’s Shutout, Walk-off Home Run Sends Russell County to First State Title Game
EKU commit Nathan Lawson, a first-team all-state senior, pitched another gem and hit a 6th-inning walk-off home run to force the mercy rule, leading Russell County (31-6) to a 10-0 win over Woodford County (26-14) on Friday afternoon. Russell County punched their ticket to Saturday’s Clark’s Pump-N-Shop KHSAA state championship game at Kentucky Proud Park. It will be the program’s first baseball state championship appearance in school history.
On a cloudy and refreshingly cool day in Lexington, the Jackson Five song ABC — played after every 1,2,3 inning — seemed to be on repeat thanks to Lawson’s dominance.
“I knew coming into the game Woodford County was going to hit the ball and it was going to be hard to strike them out,” Lawson said after the game. “I knew I was going to have to locate my off-speed, and I knew our team was going to have to hit it.”
They certainly did.
Leading 8-0 in the 6th inning, Lawson launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence, sending the Laker fans into a frenzy and his team into the finals as a light rain began to fall.
“I knew I hadn’t got a single fastball on the inside part of the plate the whole game. That’s what I was sitting on the whole at-bat,” Lawson added. “The first two were way outside. I knew he was going to try to groove one the next pitch. He didn’t want to walk me. It was right there, belt high, and I got a hold of it.”
Russell County scored in the top of the first to take an early lead. Sophomore Trace Stringer was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. He advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a fielder’s choice RBI off the bat of senior Isaac Roy. The game remained tight through four innings.
The Lakers played solid defense behind Lawson, including a sensational 5th inning catch at the warning track by freshman Mayes Gosser to rob Woodford County’s James Hollon of an extra-base hit. Russell County maintained a slim 1-0 lead as a result.
The Yellow Jackets got solid pitching from Cole Dycus through four innings before faltering in the fifth — they just couldn’t get the bats going against Lawson.
The Lakers batted around in the bottom of the fifth inning. Max Gosser had a RBI bunt and Mayes Gosser added a bases-loaded RBI single. Lawson drew a bases-loaded walk and Roy added a RBI double to make it 6-0, all with nobody out. After Woodford turned a double play, the Lakers added another run thanks to a throwing error.
In the 6th, Springer tripled and Mayes Gosser singled him in to set the stage for Lawson.
After 65 winning seasons in 66 total seasons, Russell County will play for their first state title against eight-time state champion St X or recent power McCracken County at 7:00 P.M on Saturday. The other semifinal is scheduled for 6:30 P.M on Friday night but could be moved if the rain doesn’t stop. I’ll provide weather and updates on Twitter: @teeroyhowell.
“We know both teams are going to be unreal with hitting the ball and defense,” Lawson said. “We got our man, Cody Luttrell on the mound. He’s going to give it his all just like he did (in a 1-0 quarterfinal shutout) against Beechwood. That is how we are going to go at it.”
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard