On a night when each team pounded out 13 hits, Williamsburg took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning on the way to a 9-6 victory Monday over visiting Harlan.
Senior catcher/pitcher Sydney Bowen led the 3-0 Jackets, driving in three runs with a double and two singles. Bowen also earned the save as he struck out two in one hitless inning of relief after Isaiah Sizemore pitched the first six innings.
“It was a hard fought baseball game tonight and I’m proud of the effort and the fight we showed,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “ Like I told the boys after the game, you learn more from a loss than a win. So for me, it’s not win or lose. It’s win or learn. We learned some things tonight. Williamsburg makes you bring your A game with (Isaiah) Sizemore and (Sydney) Bowen on the mound. They like to go really fast tempo and make you uncomfortable in the box. They have a strong team. Hats off to them. They played well tonight. I think we are showing signs of growing together every game. Games like these you have to learn to win — stay focused and concentrate and just execute. We hit the ball well enough to win. I cost us a couple runs being over aggressive with runners in scoring position. I’m excited coaching this team. If they keep working hard, and we all continue to learn, the sky is the limit.”
Baylor Varner led the Harlan offense with his first high school homer, along with a double. Jaedyn Gist added two triples. Brody Owens singled three times. Donovan Montanaro had a double and single. Jared Moore, Eli Freyer, Aiden Johnson and Nate Montanaro contributed one single each.
Moore gave up six runs on 10 hits in four innings on the mound. Luke Luttrell allowed three runs on three hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
“I thought Jared pitched well tonight. He is pretty under the weather but gutted it out,” Freyer said. “Luke Luttrell came in and finished the game for us. He threw pretty well also. Another night he came in a close game and kept his composure. Bowen hurt us tonight with his bat, but that’s just the player he is. I think he hurt everyone with his bat last year.”
Harlan (1-1) plays host to Barbourville on Tuesday.
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Harlan 113 001 0 — 6. 13 1
Williamsburg 132 030 0 — 9. 13. 0
Moore, Luttrell (5) and Owens; Sizemore, Bowen (7) and Bowen, Sizemore (7). WP — Sizemore. LP — Moore (0-1). SV — Bowen.