Nine days after being limited to one hit in a 6-5 loss at home to Harlan County, the Harlan Lady Dragons’ usually potent offense appears to have found its rhythm once again. Harlan scored eight runs in the first three innings of the rematch Thursday at HCHS on the way to a 9-1 victory.
“We’ve steadily progressed since those two or three games,” Harlan coach David Overbay said. “They’ve done much better and stayed focused on what the goal is and put the bat on the ball. They’ve been better the last few games.”
Harlan all but clinched the district’s top seed with the win. The Lady Dragons can lock up the top seed with a win at Bell County on Friday, but will likely take the spot either way with a big lead in the district tie-breaker which is based on the fewest runs allowed in district play.
Jordyn Smith earned the win for the Lady Dragons as she scatted six hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
“We played a great game defensively. We had a double play on something that could have been bad,” Overbay said. “Jordyn has come so far since last year. She’s throwing well.”
Addison Jackson led the Harlan offense with a triple and single. Ally Kirby singled twice. Ella Farley, Ella Lisenbee, Abbie Fields and Smith added one single each.
Aviya Halcomb and Kendall Brock singled twice each for the Lady Bears. Braylen Gilley and Raegan Landa added one single each. All six HCHS hits were from the bottom four spots in the order.
Alexis Adams gave up nine runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and nine walks.
“I think we have got ourself in a bit of a slump right now, and we just have to battle our way out,” Harlan County coach Shelby Burton said. “There’s still a lot of the season left, and I know we have it in us. We just have to believe in ourselves.”
“Shelby has done a great job with her girls, and even with an eight-run lead you don’t feel comfortable,” Overbay said. “It’s going to be a tough district tournament.”
Lisenbee had a two-run single in the first inning, then scored on a wild pitch as Harlan grabbed an early 3-0 lead.
The Lady Dragons sent 11 batters to the plate in a five-run third inning that included four walks and a hit batsman. Jackson and Fields each had RBI hits, and two runs scored on walks.
Lisenbee scored again in the fifth inning as she all but forced herself into a rundown between second and third before scoring on an errant throw.
Harlan County had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning but came up empty when Ella Farley started a double play when she was unable to come up with a blooper into short left field before throwing home for a force out followed by Jackson throwing to third for the final out of the inning.
The Lady Bears left the bases loaded in the third inning before breaking through with a run in the fourth on Brock’s RBI single.
Harlan (12-5) will close its district schedule Friday at Bell County. Harlan County (9-12) will play at Barbourville on Friday.
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Harlan 305 010 0 — 9. 8. 1
Harlan County 000 100 0 — 1. 6. 1
Smith and Jackson; Adams and Burton. WP — Smith (11-5). LP — Adams (5-5).