If the opening game is any indication, the Harlan Green Dragons are in for an exciting season in 2024.
Harlan rallied from a two-run deficit with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win 5-4 on Aiden Johnson’s squeeze bunt to bring home Eli Freyer with the winning run. Baylor Varner led off the inning with a walk, then Freyer followed a long at bat by Brewer with another walk. Chris Rouse’s two-run hit tied the game. Jared Moore was intentionally walked, then Brody Owens struck out before Johnson’s squeeze.
“It was a good team win tonight,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “We did some things well, but we have a lot to work on. Hats off to Leslie County because they came over here and fought our tails off for seven innings. It’s always a good matchup when we play each other.”
Varner and Luke Luttrell combined on a two-hitter with Varner striking out 10 and walking five in 4 1/3 innings and Luttrell striking out four and walking two in 2 2/3 hitless innings.
Johnson led the Dragons at the plate with three singles. Moore and Varner had doubles. Freyer and Rouse added singles.
“Baylor Varner and Luke Luttrell both got some work on the mound tonight. It’s good to see them throwing. That’s a pretty solid tandem when you can use the two of them together,” Freyer said. “Defensively, when your pitchers have 14 strikeouts you have the potential to not expect the ball. We made a couple errors I would like to see us clean up that led to some runs for Leslie. Offensively, I thought we executed quite well for it to be game one. We made contact all day, but we didn’t seem to find many barrels. These boys didn’t give up. Going into the bottom of the seventh down two runs, who both scored on an error the prior inning could get you rattled. They came out the last inning and focused back up, had an approach and won the ballgame.”
Harlan (1-0) plays host to Thomas Walker, Va., on Thursday.
———
Leslie County 000 020 2 — 4. 2. 2
Harlan 101 000 3 — 5. 7. 2
Holland, Baker, Simpson and Vanscoy; Varner, Luttrell (5) and Owens. WP — Luttrell (1-0). LP — Simpson.