Getting to the final four of the District 4 Tournament (ages 11-12) was quite an accomplishment for the Harlan All Stars.
They are now in the final three after a 4-1 win Tuesday over Corbin.
Seth Johnson earned the win on the mound as he struck out six and allowed only one run and one hit over 4 2/3 innings. Maddox Landa the final out in the fifth inning, then Brylee Southerland earned the save as he retired the final three batters after Corbin opened the sixth inning with back-to-back hits. After Southerland recorded two outs in the sixth, catcher Maddox Helton recorded the final out by throwing out a potential base stealer at third.
“I saw some nerves the first couple of innings from the boys, but they settled down and played a very good defensive game tonight,” Harlan All Stars coach Steven Johnsons said. “Seth pitched a tremendous game, keeping them off-stride with the curveball. Lakin Smith made a outstanding play in center field to stop them from scoring another run. It was just a whole team effort tonight. Once we started hitting the ball you could see the kids knew we could play with them and the rest just followed. Brylee came in and sealed the deal. I couldn’t be more happy for the boys. It’s the furthest they have been in a long time.”
Harlan will play Knox County tonight at 8 in Corbin with the winner advancing to play North Laurel in the championship game Friday. The Harlan-Knox winner will have to defeat North twice to win the double-elimination tournament.
Bryson Millis gave the Harlan All Stars an early lead when he walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Southerland led off the fourth inning with a double and scored on Mills’ triple. Landa followed with an RBI single.
Johnson doubled in the sixth inning and added an insurance run on Southerland’s hit.
Southerland led the Harlan offense with a double and single. Millis had a triple, and Johnson added a double. Helton, Landa and Grant Caldwell added singles.