Up 13-0 midway through the fourth inning, the Harlan Green Dragons appeared headed for an easy win and an early trip back home,
Leslie County had other ideas, scoring 15 runs over the next three innings to make it close before falling 18-16.
“A ton of credit goes to Leslie County. They fought the whole game and never folded. Every time we play each other it’s an absolute dogfight,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “Offensively, we hit the ball exceptionally well, ran the bases well. We had 34 at bats as a team with only three strikeouts so I’m incredibly pleased with our effort at the plate. Guys put the ball in play all night. It was good to see that. I was pleased with our situational hitting. We were getting on base and the heart of our lineup was driving guys in.”
Senior first baseman/pitcher Jared Moore led Harlan’s 11-hit attack with a homer and double. Luke Luttrell added a triple and double. Brody Owens had a double and single. Eli Freyer singled twice. Jake Brewer, Chris Rouse and Jaxson Perry added one single each.
Baylor Varner shut the Eagles out for three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth as he gave up three runs on one hit. He had nine strikeouts and six walks over 3 2/3 innings, falling one out short of qualifying for a win. Rouse allowed two runs on two hits in one-third of an inning with one strikeout and one walk. Brewer gave up four runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. Freyer allowed three runs on two hits with three walks in one-third of an inning. Moore recorded the win as the only effective reliever as he allowed three runs on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks in two innings.
“On the learning side of things, we have to be better at overcoming adversity,” Freyer said, “Field conditions weren’t the best but that’s any natural playing surface in the state in the spring. We have to adapt to that better than we did tonight. Also, in the scrimmages our pitching had been really sharp and really crisp pounding the zone. Tonight, there was a bit of a drop off there. When you fall behind hitters it makes you predictable pitching wise. Falling behind leads to walks and hits. If we limit those and limit our errors we will be more successful.”
Harlan (1-0) returns to action Tuesday for its home opener against South Laurel.
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Harlan 400 940 1 — 18. 11 6
Leslie County 000 474 1 — 16. 8. 5
Varner, Rouse (4), Brewer (5), Freyer (5), Moore (6) and Owens; Holland, Baker (4), Joseph (5), Russell (5) and Caldwell. WP — Moore (1-0). LP — Holland. HR — Moore (1)
