A second straight trip to the 13th Region Tournament for the Harlan Green Dragons ended the same place as the year before with a loss in the semifinals.
Harlan pulled within a run with a four-run second inning but was held scoreless from there in an 11-4 loss to regional favorite Whitley County on Tuesday at Bell County.
Baylor Varner drove in three runs with a bases-clearing double in the second inning. Jake Brewer, Chris Rouse and Jaxson Perry added singles.
Varner suffered the loss as he allowed five runs (two earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 1 1.3 innings. Jared Moore allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with a walk in three innings. Eli Freyer gave up three runs on three walks and a hit with one strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. Brewer pitched one hitless inning.
Caden Mountjoy connected with a three-run homer in the win while finishing the game with four RBI and a run scored. Kip Allen and Spencer Bargo both had a hit and an RBI apiece while Ty Petrey went two for three with two runs scored. Dee Parker and EJ Allen both finished with a hit and two runs scored while Ronald Osborne collected a hit and scored once. Spencer Bargo had a hit and an RBI.
Eli Powers started the game, lasting three innings while allowing three hits and two earned runs. He struck out four batters. Trey Walton got the win, pitching two scoreless innings while allowing a hit. Clint Partin and Chris Cureton combined to throw two scoreless innings.
The Dragons ended the season at 17-13 with back-to-back district championships for the first time since 1996 and 1997. Harlan loses only two seniors to graduation.
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Whitley County 321 023 0 — 11 8. 0
Harlan 040 000 0 — 4. 4. 4
Powers, Walton (4), Partin (6), Cureton (7) and Bargo; Varner, Moore (2), Freyer (5), Brewer (7) and Rouse. WP — Walton. LP — Varner (3-3). HR – Whitley County (Mountjoy).