INEZ – Two of the region’s storybook baseball programs have punched their tickets to the 57th District championship game set for 7 p.m. tonight at Sheldon Clark High School.
Johnson Central, now 29-5, will face cross-town rival Paintsville (21-14) after both scored big wins Saturday in opening round play.
The Golden Eagles rolled past Magoffin County while the Tigers edged the host Cardinals, 4-3.
Johnson Central pitcher Andrew Music allowed only one hit over six innings. He struck out nine and walked one.
Losing pitcher Lucas Litteral singled for the Hornets, who finished 4-19.
Ryan Sartin-Slone tripled, singled, scored and drove in a pair of runs in the win. Cody Rice added a pair of singles and drove in two runs while scoring twice. Grant Davis finished with two hits, scored and batted in one run.
Blake Delong singled twice and scored twice while Hunter McCloud added two singles and scored.
Meanwhile, Paintsville scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to eliminate Sheldon Clark, which finished 18-12.
Winning pitcher Braxton Ratliff doubled in two runs while Matt Baldwin singled and added a pair or RBIs. Jake Hyden had two hits and scored two runs.
Losing pitcher Parker Jarrell had two hits and Mason Gordon knocked in one run.
At Inez
(57th District Tournament)
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
MC (4-19)…000 000 – 0- 1-3
JC (29-5)…..300 232 – 10-12-1
Pitching:
WP – Ryan Sartin-Slone 3b, 1b, 1r, 2 RBI; Cody Rice 2-1b, 2r, 2 RBI; Grant Davis 2-1b, 1r, 1 RBI; Blake Delong 2-1b, 2r; Hunter McCloud 2-1b, 14, Johnson Central.
LP – Lucas Litteral
Hitting:
At Inez
(57th District Tournament)
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
SC (18-12)….000 002 1 – 3-5-3
PV (21-14)….002 010 1 – 4-8-3
Pitching:
WP – Braxton Ratliff
LP – Parker Jarrell
Hitting: Parker Jarrell 2h; Mason Gordon 1 RBI, Sheldon Clark. Braxton Ratliff 2b, 2 RBI; Matt Baldwin 1b, 2 RBI; Jake Hyden 2h, 2r, Paintsville.
(Photo courtesy of Todd Conley)