Mistakes cost Dragons as Barbourville rallies for win

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Jon Dickenson

Harlan freshman Baylor Varner struck out 11 over five innings Tuesday, but the Green Dragons fell 9-7 in eight innings to visiting Barbourville.

Up 5-1 after five innings, Baylor Varner and the Harlan Green Dragons appeared in control of Tuesday’s game against visiting Barbourville.
But that was before the Harlan defense gave away the momentum, then the lead and then the game in a 9-7 loss in eight innings.
The Green Dragons were charged with six unearned runs and eight errors as the Tigers scored eight runs over the final three innings. Barbourville had only three hits in the game.
“Thats a punch in the gut. We have to be better than that,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “I talked to the boys after the game and told them if we were going to play that bad, I’m glad it was in the third game of the season. We still have a lot of growing to do. And with growing comes pain, and tonight was painful.”
Varner, a freshman right-hander, was dominant through five innings as he struck out 11 and walked only one, giving up five unearned runs on one hit. Donovan Montanaro allowed two runs on four walks in 1 2/3 innings. Aiden Johnson allowed two runs on two hits with two walks.
Johnson led the Harlan offense with a double and single. Donovan Montanaro singled twice. Luke Luttrell and Jared Moore had one double each. Varner, Jaedyn Gist and Eli Freyer added one single each.
Harlan (1-2) will play at Lynn Camp on Thursday.
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Barbourville 000 104 22 — 9. 3. 5
Harlan 003 201 10 — 7. 9. 8
Buchanan, Pierson (4), Lundy (8) and West; Varner, D. Montanaro (6), Johnson (7) and Owens. WP — Pierson. LP — Johnson (0-1). SV — Lundy.