ERMINE – Letcher Central shut down Shelby Valley in the top of the seven innings to earn a 9-7 victory in the season opener played March 18.
Nick Mason had two hits, scored two runs and drove in one to lead the Cougars. Trevor Hardin had a pair of hits and scored two runs while Greg Kincer had one hit, batted in one run and score twice.
Jake Slone was the winning pitcher in relief of Kincer.
Losing pitcher Lincoln Billiter had two hits, including a double, scored once and drove in two runs while Luke Roberts collected one hit and knocked in a pair of runs. Logan Billiter singled, scored twice and batted in one run.
Gabriel Brown scored three runs and singled while Hunter Mullins singled, scored and added an RBI. Jackson Wierwille doubled.
At Ermine
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
SV (0-1)………300 110 2 – 7-7-3
LC (1-0)……….051 201 x – 9-5-1
Pitching:
WP – Jake Slone
LP – Lincoln Billiter
Hitting: Lincoln Billiter 2b, 1b, 1r, 2 RBI; Luke Roberts 1b, 2 RBI; Logan Billiter 1b, 2r, 1RBI; Gabriel Brown 1b, 3r; Hunter Mullins 1b, 1r, 1 RBI; Jackson Wierwille 2b, Shelby Valley; Nick Mason 2-1b, 2, 1 RBI; Trevor Hardin 2-1b, 2r; Greg Kincer 1b, 2r, 1 RBI, Letcher Central.
Paintsville…….22
Pikeville…….…14
PIKEVILLE – Paintsville rallied from an early 9-1 deficit to outslug Pikeville, 22-14, in the season opener played at Gene Davis Park March 18.
Matt Baldwin had four hits and drove home five runs while Gunner Collins pounded out three hits and knocked home six runs. Seth Williams had three RBI.
At Pikeville
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
PV (1-0)….023 40(10) 3 – 22-14-3
PK (0-1)….720 04 1 0 – 14- 7-5
Pitching:
WP – Baron Ratliff
LP – Brady Clark
Hitting: Matt Baldwin 4h, 5 RBI; Gunner Collins 3h, 6 RBI; Seth Williams 3 RBI, Paintsville.
Lawrence County….11-20
Betsy Layne……………0- 0
LOUISA – Lawrence County, one of the 15th Regions more dominant baseball programs, swept a doubleheader from Betsy Layne, winning 11-0 and 20-0 in games played March 18.
Hunter Crum drove in three runs in the opener and Bryce Blevins had three hits and drove in one run to back the solid pitching of Jacob Fletcher.
Sam Boyd and Zack Bentley had hits for the Bobcats. Byron Tackett suffered the loss.
In the nightcap, Austin Roe pounded out three hits and drove in four runs as the Bulldogs cruised. Bryce Blevins and Ethan Whitt knocked home two runs each. Winning pitcher Jacob Feltner and Tyler Maynard added two hits each.
Feltner did not allow a hit over three innings.
At Louisa
(Game 1)
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
BL (0-1)………….000 00 – 0-4-6
LC (1-0)…………503 3x – 11-10-1
Pitching:
WP – Jacob Fletcher
LP – Byron Tackett
Hitting: Sam Boyd 1h, Zack Bentley 1h, Betsy Layne; Hunter Crum, 3 RBI; Bryce Blevins 3h, 1 RBI, Lawrence County.
At Louisa
(Game 2)
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
LC (2-0)………..(12)80 – 20-15-0
BL (0-2)……………000 – 0- 0-3
Pitching:
WP – Jackson Feltner
LP – Andrew Kidd
Hitting: Austin Roe 3h, 4 RBI; Jacob Feltner 2h, 2 RBI; Tyler Maynard 2h, 2 RBI, Lawrence County.
Sheldon Clark….…12
Floyd Central………2
INEZ – Sheldon Clark pounded out 12 hits and used a big fourth inning to pull away and beat Floyd Central, 12-2, in a game played March 18.
Daylon Stafford had a big day at the plate, collecting three hits and driving in five runs. Matt Mitch had three hits and knocked home one run and winning pitcher Parker Jarrell added two RBI.
Brayden Hamilton had two hits to lead the Jaguars.
At Inez
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
FC (0-1)…..…..000 20 – 2- 7-1
SC (1-0)………..003 72 – 12-12-1
Pitching:
WP – Parker Jarrell
LP – Matt Combs
Hitting: Brayden Hamilton 2h, Floyd Central; Daylon Stafford 3h, 5 RBI; Matt Mitch 3h, 1 RBI; Parker Jarrell 2 RBI, Sheldon Clark.
Jackson City….8
Jenkins….……..3
JACKSON – Jenkins saw an early lead slip away as Jackson City rallied for an 8-3 victory March 18.
Hayden Fleming had three hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Cavaliers in the season opener. Alex Belcher also collected a hit.
Brandon Johnson drove in three runs for Jackson City and Alexander Terry knocked in a pair.
At Jackson
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
JK (0-1)…….030 000 0 – 3-4-5
JC (1-0)…….100 034 x – 8-2-0
Pitching:
WP – Colton Smith
LP – Hayden Fleming
Hitting: Hayden Fleming 3h, 2 RBI; Alex Belcher 1h, Jenkins; Brandon Johnson 3 RBI; Alexander Terry 2 RBI, Jackson City.
In other baseball games Monday:
Chapmanville Regional swept a doubleheader from Mingo Central, winning 17-1 and 12-2; and Belfry defeated Tug Valley, 11-1.
Here is a look at tonight’s area high school baseball games:
Magoffin County at Floyd Central, 6 p.m.
Phelps at Knott Central, 6:30 p.m.
Harlan at Letcher Central, 6 p.m.
Pike County Central at Paintsville, 6 p.m.
Johnson Central at Pikeville, 6 p.m.
Belfry at Shelby Valley, 6 p.m.