With one of the 13th Region’s top pitchers on the mound, the Harlan Green Dragons and coach Lee Freyer knew they probably wouldn’t need a lot of runs to win their district showdown Monday against visiting Harlan County.
Freyer decided several times to take a “small ball” approach to success, and junior second baseman Jake Brewer was there to get the job done. Brewer laid down a perfect bunt in the second inning before Baylor Varner’s two-run double, then executed a suicide squeeze bunt to perfection to bring in the Dragons’ final run on the way to a 4-1 victory that locked Harlan into the top seed in next month’s 52nd District Tournament.
“Jake played great and has a lot of speed. Sometimes putting the ball in play is all it takes,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said.
Varner was in control on the mound as he tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks.
“Baylor wants the ball in games like this. He eats this kind of environment up,” Freyer said. “He pitched great. He’s pitched great for three years.”
Jesse Gilbert, a sophomore right-hander, kept the Bears in the game as he scattered nine hits while striking out two and walking one. The HCHS defense also helped with plays on several occasions, including a double play in the fifth inning.
“I thought Jesse pitched well. Our defense will make plays. I think my outfield may be the fastest in the region. They are young with two sophomores and a freshman. They are getting to a lot of balls,” Bailey said. “Harlan did some things right. We didn’t get some bunts down, and they did. They executed well. We just have to get more done offensively.”
Brewer led the Dragons with two singles and a sacrifice. Luke Luttrell also singled twice. Baylor Varner and Jared Moore added doubles. Eli Freyer and Matthew Nunez had singles.
Aiden Craig tripled for the Bears. Brayden Morris and DaShaun Smith added singles.
Freyer singled with two outs in the first inning and scored the game’s first run on Moore’s single.
Varner had a two-run double in the second after Brewer reached on a bunt single and Jaxson Perry walked.
Luttrell singled in the third inning, moved to third on two wild pitches and scored on Brewer’s bunt.
Craig scored on Smith’s single after leading off the fourth inning with a triple.
Harlan put together three straight hits in the sixth inning but came up empty when Smith threw out a runner on a steal attempt, and Colby Shepherd threw out a runner at the plate on a single to left.
Owens led off the fifth with a double but was doubled off second on a line drive to the outfield.
Freyer blamed himself for losing some runners on the bases.
“The coach at Harlan took a few runs off the board. I’ve got to relax a little more out here,” he said.
The two teams play against Tuesday at Harlan County.
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Harlan County 000 100 0 — 1. 3. 0
Harlan 121 000 x — 4. 9. 2
Gilbert and Smith; Varner and Owens. WP — Varner (3-2). LP — Gilbert (1-2).