HCHS, Middlesboro to meet again for 52nd District title
June 2, 2021
Harlan County and Middlesboro will meet for the 52nd District Tournament title for the seventh time in the last eight championship games on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. after each claimed victories Tuesday at Harlan.
Middlesboro (14-19) rolled to a 10-2 victory over Harlan as the top four hitters in the order each had three hits, led by Megan Gent with a double and two singles. Jamayha Poe, J.J. Brown and Mackenzie Miller each had three singles. Paige Johnson doubled twice. Macy Bruce had a double and single. Lindsey Buis added one single.
Miller pitched a three-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk to earn the victory.
Eighth-grade catcher Addi Jackson led the Lady Dragons, who finished 1-16, with a second-inning home run. Abbi Fields added a double. Carley Thomas contributed a single,
Thomas, one of five eighth-graders in the starting lineup, struck out two and walked one.
Harlan County stayed unbeaten in 52nd District Tournament opening-round games with a 5-2 win over Bell County in last night’s second game.
Jacey Lewis, a senior outfielder, led the Lady Bears with a double and two singles. Brittleigh Estep had a double. Brandy Adams, Allee Galloway, Kerrigan Creech and Brenna Early added one single each for the 13-8 Lady Bears.
Creech allowed two hits and no earned runs with five strikeouts in claiming the victory.
Mackenzie Napier and Raleigh Saylor each had singles.for the 3-13 Lady Cats. Mataya Ausmus struck out four as she pitched a complete game.
The Middlesboro/HCHS final will mark the eighth time the two have met for the championship since Harlan County opened during the 2008-2009 school year. Harlan County has won the last four district titles and eight of 11 since opening.
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Harlan 010 001 0 — 2. 3. 2
Middlesboro 130 042 x — 10. 17. 0
Thomas and Jackson; Miller and Marcum. WP — Miller. LP — Thomas.
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Bell County 000 001 0 — 1. 2. 4
Harlan County 201 110 x — 5. 8. 1
Ausmus and Napier; Creech and Adams. WP — Creech (12-7). LP — Ausmus.