Helton powers Bears to victory over Leslie
Gabriel Helton was the star on both sides of the ball as Harlan County held on for a 7-6 win Tuesday over visiting Leslie County in middle school baseball action. It was the fifth straight win for the 8-3 Bears.
Helton led the HC offense with four singles in four at bats. Carson Sanders had a double and single. Maddox Helton singled twice. Carter Caldwell, Brylee Southerland and Lakin Smith had one single each.
Helton struck out 10 and walked only one as he pitched 5 2.3 innings. Seth Johnson struck out the final Leslie hitter to earn the save.
Lady Bears defeat Harlan
Harlan County improved to 11-1 in middle school softball action with an 18-9 win Friday at Harlan.
Aniston Burton scored four runs with a double and single. Lexie Boggs drove in three runs and scored three with a double and single. Cayleean Yount drove in three runs with a double and single. Campbell Thompson, Zoey Reed and Maddy Barrett had two singles each. Alyssa Napier and Khloe Daniels each added a double. Bella Ford had one single.
Yount gave up four unearned runs with one strikeouts and two walks in one inning. Daniels earned the win as she allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks in three innings.
Jerrah Philips and Kennedy Estes led the Lady Dragons with two singles each with Estes driving in four runs. Addyson Estes added an RBI double.
Lillian Daniels gave up eight runs (six earned in 1 1/3 innings with one strikeout and four walks. Kennedy Estes allowed 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits two strikeouts and two walks in 2 2/3 innings.
Lady Bears sweep doubleheader at Barbourville
Harlan County pounded out 23 hits in a 19-2 win in the first game and followed with nine hits in a 15-1 victory in the nightcap to cap a doubleheader sweep Monday at Barbourville in middle school softball action.
Bella Ford and Lexi Boggs each had four hits in the opening game with Ford recording a triple and double and Boggs adding a triple. Campbell Thompson had a triple and two singles. Aniston Burton added three singles. Zoey Reed, Alyssa Napier and Maddy Barrett contributed two singles each. Cayleean Yount added one single.
Khloe Daniels pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts and six walks to earn the win.
Yount had the win in the second game as she gave up two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Thompson led the Lady Bears on offense with an inside-the-park homer. Kialia Phillips added a double and single. Burton had a triple. Embrey Engle, Sadie Huckleby, Ford, Yount and Napier added one single each.
Black Bears edge Jackson County
Harlan County edged visiting Jackson County 2-1 on Monday in middle school baseball action.
Carter Caldwell pitched five innings to earn the win. Gabriel Helton had the save with one inning on the mound.
Helton drove in both HC runs with a single. Caldwell, Cian Garland and Grant Caldwell added one single each.
