Best known as one of the Harlan Green Dragons’ top hitters on back-to-back district championship teams, junior Eli Freyer came through on the mound after visiting Harlan County cut a seven-run deficit to two in the fourth inning.
Freyer gave up only one run over the final three innings with eight strikeouts and one walk as the Dragons held on for a 10-7 win to sweep the two-game series and improve to 4-0 in district action heading into a showdown next week against Bell County for the top seed.
“Eli was very effective on the mound tonight. He was ready for this moment. I’m proud of him for keeping his composure and coming in and settling things down before eventually closing the door,” said Harlan coach Lee Freyer, who was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing a safe call at first base.
Harlan (9-7) took control with a seven-run third inning as the Dragons cleared the bases when Chris Rouse hit a line drive and ended up on third base after three Harlan County errors on the play to break a 1-1 tie. Baylor Varner followed with an RBI triple and scored on Jaxson’s Perry single.
Brody Owens led a nine-hit Harlan attack with three singles and a walk in four trips to the plate. Braxton Bowen added a triple and single. Perry had two hits while Varner and Perry added one each.
“Braxton swung it well tonight. He puts so much pressure on himself to chase perfection. I have to remind him that all we expect is for him to try his best. He’s been through a lot, it was special to see him have success,” Freyer said. “Brody got us off to a good start on the mound and with his bat. He had some key hits at opportune times to help us get ahead.
Harlan County’s offensive problems continued with a hitless streak that reached 10 innings before Brennan Blevins cleared the bases with a double in the Bears’ five-run fourth inning that followed four walks given up by Owens, who allowed five runs on no hits with nine walks and five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Rouse surrendered hits to Blevins and Zayden Casolari in the fourth inning. Carson Clark had the other HC hit with a single in the fifth inning against Freyer.
“I’m proud of how ours boys battled after a bad inning. They could have shut down in that atmosphere, but they didn’t,” Harlan County coach Scotty Bailey said. “You take away one bad inning and the outcome could be different. Being disciplined at the plate tonight was what kept us in it. We just gotta find some more hits. We gotta keep getting better every day and figuring it out, I’m proud of the grit we showed tonight when we could have just laid down.”
“It’s always good to start off the district slate 4-0. I’m proud of my team and their effort,” said Freyer. “It was a good game tonight and a great atmosphere. High pressure games like these are where championships are made. This game is always a battle, and the emotions are always high You can try all you want, but you can’t simulate this type of pressure.”
Harlan plays at Barbourville on Thursday. Harlan County (6-10) will return to action Friday at Knox Central.
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Harlan County 001 510 0 — 7. 3. 4
Harlan 017 020 0 — 10. 9. 2
Gilbert, Lewis (3), Clark (4), Lewis (4) and Smith; Owens, Rouse (4), Freyer (5) and Shelton. WP — Freyer (1-0). LP — Gilbert (0-2).
