Bulldogs capture district championship

Lawrence County beat Prestonsburg 3-1 to win the 58th District baseball title. Photo courtesy of Lawrence County High School

STAFF REPORT

BSN

BETSY LAYNE — Remaining on top, Lawrence County beat Prestonsburg 3-1 in the 58th District Baseball Tournament title game at Betsy Layne High School on Wednesday, May 18.

Luke Patton led Lawrence County to the district championship-clinching victory.

Patton claimed the win on the mound for the Bulldogs, pitching a complete game. The Lawrence County pitcher allowed only one run on two hits while recording 12 strikeouts.

Matt Welch started on the mound for Prestonsburg and took the loss. Welch surrendered three runs on five hits over four innings, striking out one.

Closing out the game for Prestonsburg, Seth Fitch pitched the final two innings in relief.

Lawrence County, under the direction of head coach Travis Feltner, outhit Prestonsburg 7-2.

Jake Derifield went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Bulldogs. Aiding his pitching cause, Patton homered and drove in two runs.

Both Eli Fletcher and Will Lafferty doubled for the Bulldogs in the victory.

Contributing at the plate for Lawrence County, Blue Fletcher and Abner Collinsworth each singled.

Payton Burke paced the Blackcats at the plate, collecting two hits in three at-bats.

Both Lawrence County and Prestonsburg advanced to the 15th Region Baseball Tournament.

Luke Patton, Blue Fletcher, Will Lafferty, Braydan Maynard, Nick Collinsworth and Bryce Blevins from Lawrence County were selected to the All-58th District Baseball Tournament Team. Blevins was named the 58th District Baseball Player of the Year.

Lawrence County 10,

Betsy Layne 0 (5 innings)

Lawrence County blanked Betsy Layne 10-0 in five innings in the semifinals of the 58th District Baseball Tournament on Monday, May 16.

Blue Fletcher earned the win on the mound for the Bulldogs. Fletcher pitched a three-hit shutout, recording eight strikeouts and allowing only one walk over six innings.

Byron Tackett took the loss on the mound for the Bulldogs. Tackett pitched five and a third innings, allowing 10 runs on 14 hits while striking out three.

Lawrence County outhit Betsy Layne 14-3.

Fletcher, Patton, Nick Collinsworth and Braydan Maynard each recorded multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Thriving offensively, Fletcher and Patton each collected three hits to lead Lawrence County. Patton homered for the Bulldogs and collected three RBIs. Following Patton in the key offensive category, Will Lafferty contributed two RBIs.

Jake Derifield tripled for the Bulldogs while Fletcher, Maynard and Lafferty each doubled.