The Harlan County softball season officially opened Tuesday with a game against visiting Leslie County.
The Harlan County offense decided not to attend.
Harlan County was limited to only two hits by Leslie’s Emily Caldwell, who struck out five and walked three while allowing only two hits — a double by Lesleigh Brown and single by Madison Blair.
The Lady Bears threatened only once as Blair drew a walk and Brittleigh Estep reached on an error. Jade Burton ripped a two-out line drive to center that would have brought home two runs if Leslie’s Autumn Roberts wasn’t able to make a running catch going toward the fence.
Leslie took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on singles by Roberts, Gabrielle Ostrander and Royce Osborne.
Leslie added two runs in the fourth. Allie Rice walked, then Lauren Turner singled before Caldwell singled home a run. The Lady Eagles scored a final run after Roberts was retired at first but the throw back to third got away.
Blair pitched a complete game, giving up seven hits while striking out five and walking two.
“I think we had two hits the entire night, and you just can’t win ball games like that,” Harlan County coach Shelby Burton said. “Our girls were a little sluggish at the plate today, but I have full confidence that this is not the team we will see at the end of May. We’ll be just fine.”
Harlan County will play host to Pineville on Friday and Jackson County on Saturday.
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Leslie County 100 200 0 — 3. 7. 3
Harlan County 000 000 0 — 0. 2. 2
Caldwell and Turner; Blair and Burton. WP — Caldwell. LP— Blair (0-1).