HCHS, Middlesboro to meet again for 52nd District title

Harlan+County+outfielder+Jacey+Lewis+was+called+out+at+third+base+as+she+tried+to+stretch+a+double+into+a+triple+during+52nd+District+Tournament+action+Tuesday+against+Bell+County.+Lewis+had+three+hits+in+the+Lady+Bears+5-1+win.

Kim Henson

Harlan County outfielder Jacey Lewis was called out at third base as she tried to stretch a double into a triple during 52nd District Tournament action Tuesday against Bell County. Lewis had three hits in the Lady Bears’ 5-1 win.

By John Henson, Managing Editor

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.
———
Harlan 010 001 0 — 2. 3. 2
Middlesboro 130 042 x — 10. 17. 0
Thomas and Jackson; Miller and Marcum. WP — Miller. LP — Thomas.
———
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.