PAINTSVILLE – Paintsville used a five-run, fourth inning to snap a one-all tie and the Tigers went on to beat Johnson Central, 8-1, in the 57th District baseball championship game played Thursday.
The Tigers, now 22-12, had eight hits, including a home run off the bat of Ryan Gibson. Tanner Smith doubled, singled, scored and drove in one run. Jonathan McKenzie singled and collected a pair of RBI while John Phelps singled home two runs.
Mason Moore was the winning pitcher. He scattered five hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked six. Matt Combs came on in the seventh to close it out.
Riley Preece and Ryan Sartin both doubled for the Golden Eagles (20-14). Braxton Kelly suffered the loss.
Both teams advanced to the 15th Region tournament next week.
At Paintsville
(57th District championship)
SCORE BY INNINGS: R-H-E
PV (22-12)…010 510 1 – 8-8-0
JC (20-14)….100 000 0 – 1-5-5
Pitching:
WP – Mason Moore
LP – Braxton Kelly
Hitting: Ryan Gibson solo-HR; Tanner Smith 2b, 1b, 1r, 1 RBI; Jonathan McKenzie 1b, 2 RBI; John Phelps 1b, 2 RBI, Paintsville; Riley Preece 2b, 1r; Ryan Sartin 2b, Johnson Central.