While their 1-12 record doesn’t show it, the Harlan Lady Dragons and coach David Overbay consider themselves as contender for the 52nd District title.
For six innings on Thursday against top-seeded Bell County, the Lady Dragons played like a contender with an 8-3 lead.
Unfortunately for the Lady Dragons, high school games last seven innings. Bell took advantage of five Harlan errors in the seventh inning to score six runs and rally for a 9-8 victory.
“I don’t know what happened. The wheels came off,” Harlan coach David Overbay said. “I’ve preached all year that you play seven innings for a reason. It’s hard enough to overcome 10 errors in a game, let alone five in one inning. They wanted it more than we did, at least at the end.”
The comeback spoiled a big game by sophomore third baseman Ella Lisenbee, who hit a pair of two-run homers followed by a pair of intentional walks. Addison Jackson, a sophomore catcher, added three hits and had a stellar game behind the plate as she threw out two base runners and blocked numerous pitches. Ella Farley had a double and single. Mallory McNiel and Kendyll Blanton each added singles.
The Lady Dragons have played all season without pitcher Carley Thomas due to a knee injury. Outfielder Annie Hoskins went out the last game with a broken hand.
“There’s no excuses, but we’ve had to move kids all around the field. They have stayed positive and kept working, but this one hurts,” Overbay said. “Ella and Addison both had great games. We have a great team, and I still believe we can win the district championship.
McNiel gave up three runs on six hits in five-plus innings in the circle, striking out two and walking six. Amy Roman allowed six runs on five hits in two innings, with one strikeout and one walk.
Mataya Ausmus pitched a complete game for the 8-4 Lady Cats, who improved to 4-1 in district action, and gave up eight runs on nine hits, with six strikeouts and five walks.
Ausmus also led Bell at the plate with a triple and double. Madison Helton and Camdyn Thomas had two singles each. Addison Maiden added a double. Kenley Foster, Kylee Greer-Gann, Jada Boateng and Maggie Calloway contributed one single each.
Ausmus had an RBI triple in the decisive seventh inning, then Thomas came up with a two-out, two-run single to put Bell ahead.
Harlan had runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh, but Ausmus worked out of trouble by retiring Farley and Ava Nunez to end the game.
The Lady Dragons play host to Barbourville on Friday. Bell County is at home against McCreary Central on Friday.
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Bell County 020 100 6 — 9. 11. 2
Harlan 104 300 0 — 8 9. 10
Ausmus and Helton; McNiel, Roman (6) and Jackson. WP — Ausmus. LP — Roman (0-1).