Aiden Johnson pitched a three-hitter and Donovan Montanaro continued to ignite the Harlan offense as the Green Dragons won their fourth straight game with a 5-0 victory Saturday at Somerset Christian.
Johnson struck out eight and walked only one as he cruised through seven innings by throwing 83 pitches.
Montanaro had two of the Dragons’ three hits. Eli Freyer added the other hit.
Harlan took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Montanaro led off with a walk, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on Jaedyn Gist’s ground out.
Montanaro singled to open the third inning, then moved to third when Gist and Baylor Varner were hit by pitches. Jared Moore brought in one run with a sacrifice fly and Freyer singled home another.
Montanaro singled in the seventh and Gist was hit by a pitch. Montanaro scored when Gist stole second. Gist stole home for the final run.
Somerset Christian rallied for an 8-6 win in the second game of a doubleheader, scoring seven runs in the sixth inning.
Jared Moore led the Dragons with a double and two singles. Luke Luttrell singled twice. Brody Owens and Chris Rouse added one single each.
Moore gave up only one run on two hits in 4 1/3 innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks. Owens allowed seven runs (three earned) on three hits with one strikeout and four walks in 1 1/3 innings. Jake Brewer recorded the final out, giving up one walk.
The 6-5 Dragons open district play Monday at home against Middlesboro. The two teams play in Middlesboro on Tuesday.
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Harlan 102 000 2 — 5. 3. 1
Somerset Christian 000 000 0 — 0. 3. 0
Johnson and Owens; Barnett, Reese (7) and Lewis. WP — Johnson (1-1). LP — Reese.
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Harlan 100 300 2 — 6. 7. 1
Somerset Christian 000 017 x — 8. 5. 3
Moore, Owens (5), Brewer (7) and Owens, Rouse (5); Hensley and Lewis. WP — Hensley. LP — Owens (0-1).