Dragons roll into All ‘A’ finals with four-inning rout of visiting Pineville

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Chris Jones

Harlan’s Evan Browning slid home with a run during the Green Dragons’ 17-2 win Thursday over visiting Pineville in the 13th Region All “A” Classic semifinals. Harlan will travel to Jackson County on Friday in the championship game.

By John Henson, Managing Editor

Harlan moved within one win of what’s believed to be its first 13th Region All “A” Classic baseball title with a 17-2 four-inning rout of visiting Pineville on Thursday,

The Green Dragons extended their win streak to three and evened their record at 4-4 with a nine-hit attack that featured eight of nine starters contributing in the hit column led by two singles from Andrew Roark. John Mark Bryson and Donovan Montanaro added one double each, Jaedyn Gist, Dawson Irvin, Noah Lewis, Jared Moore and Aiden Johnson added one single each.

“We put the ball in play with eight of nine contributing as far as hits. Good things happen when you put the ball in play,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “The big thing to me is we didn’t commit any errors. We have to continue to play clean to be successful.”

Evan Browning, a senior right-hander,  pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and three walks.

“Evan pitched well.  He did his job throwing strikes,” Freyer said. “We have to do a better job getting ahead early in the count.”

The Dragons took control with a five-run first inning as Irvin, Montanaro, Bryson, Lewis, Moore and Roark had consecutive hits before Johnson closed the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Harlan scored four runs in the third, then ended the game with an eight-run fourth inning.

The Dragons will travel to Jackson County on Friday in the All “A” Classic regional finals. The Generals upset Middlesboro 13-11 in the semifinals on Thursday.

 ———

Pineville 110 0 — 2. 4  5

Harlan 504 8 — 17. 9. 0

Littles, Baker (2), Caldwell (4) and Caldwell; Browning and Lewis. WP — Browning (1-2). LP — Littles.