Landon Myers’ two-run single in the fifth and final inning sent visiting Harlan to a 3-2 win over Pike Central in the first of two games Saturday for the Green Dragons at Pike Central

Chris Rouse, a senior right hander, made certain no late heroics were needed in the second game as he pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and two walks as the Dragons downed Betsy Layne 10-0 in five innings.

“This was Chris Rouse’s game. He did it all. He was two of two, stole three bags and pitched a complete game,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “The boys said he was in his flow state. I’m so happy for Chris. He missed a lot of our preseason workouts due to illness, but he bounced back in a big way today. “

Rouse, Brody Owens and Eli Freyer each had two singles to lead a 10-hit attack. Braxton Bowen and Baylor Varner added doubles. Jaxson Perry and Caiden Jackson had one single each.

“Our bats finally woke up which is good to see.  We had seven guys with hits and three with multiple hits.  Brody and Rouse stole three  bases each.  Those free bases add up and keeps the pressure on a defense,” Freyer said. “It was another clean game defensively.  After our game with Knox (a 26-7 loss), I told the boys that the team that throws and catches the ball the best will win the majority of the games. It sounds too simple to be true, but often times it is. We did a good job of playing clean baseball today and came away with two wins.

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Owens led the Dragons against Pike Central with a double and single. Varner singled twice. Freyer, Myers and Grant Shelton had one single each.

Owens gave up one run on one hit with three strikeouts and six walks as he pitched three innings. Jake Brewer earned the win as he allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 1 1/3 innings. Freyer struck out one as he recorded the final two outs for a save.

“One of (former Harlan coach) Murph Howard’s favorite talking points was consistency. Against Knox on Thursday and against Pike Central today we struggled to find that consistency.  We competed well enough to give ourselves a shot to win it in the end.  We executed well enough in the last inning to win the game.  Was it pretty…no.  But as a coach, you take wins any time you can get them,” Freyer said. “The top of the order for us really did a good job at the plate.  They had some timely hits. Baylor set the tone.  He’s seeing the ball well right now.  He and Owens had multiple hits for us today.  Brody had a clutch double to set up Landon Myers for the eventual game-winning hit.  Eli and Landon did their job in the heart of the order driving runs in.  Eli is hitting the ball as hard as anyone in the region.  Landon Myers had the clutch hit to drive in the tying and winning run.”

Harlan (2-1) returns to action Monday by playing host to Williamsburg in the quarterfinals of the 13th Region All “A” Classic. Lynn Camp takes on Red Bird, Pineville plays Jackson County and Barbourville plays the Middlesboro/OBI winner in other quarterfinal games. The semifinals are set for Tuesday with the championship game scheduled Thursday.

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Harlan 100 02 — 3. 7. 0

Pike Central 100 10 — 2. 3. 1

Owens, Brewer (4), Freyer (5) and Shelton; Crum and Varner. WP — Owens (1-0). LP — Crum. Sv — Freyer 1.

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Betsy Layne 000 00 — 0.   3.  2

Harlan 401 54 — 10. 10. 0

Hall and Hall; Rouse and Owens. WP — Rouse (1-0). LP — Hall.