Golden Eagles outlast Tigers, win 57th District championship

Johnson Central won the 57th District baseball title at Magoffin County on Wednesday, May 21. photo courtesy of Johnson Central High School

SALYERSVILLE — Johnson Central outlasted crosstown rival Paintsville 7-6 in eight innings in the 57th District Baseball Tournament title game at Magoffin County on Wednesday, May 21.

The Golden Eagles and Tigers were tied 6-6 at the end of the seventh inning. Johnson Central pushed across one run in the bottom half of the eighth inning to secure the win.

Kaleb Callaham pitched four innings in relief for Johnson Central and earned the win on the mound. Callaham recorded three strikeouts.

Levi Pennington started on the mound for Johnson Central and pitched two innings.

In addition to Callaham, Johnson Central sent out Kyle Rose and Dalton Boner out to pitch in relief during the district tournament game.  

Anderson Lauffer pitched four and two-thirds innings in relief for Paintsville and suffered the loss on the mound.

Dixon Kincheloe started on the mound for Paintsville and pitched two and one-third innings.

Lauffer and Kincheloe each tallied three strikeouts for the Tigers.

Johnson Central scored seven runs on 11 hits. Boner (two hits, three RBIs), Brayden Shepherd (three hits), Kyler Callaham (one hit), Kaleb Callaham (two hits), Braxton Perry (two hits) and Chase Preece (one hit, two RBIs) were each productive at the plate in Johnson Central’s win. As part of a winning effort for the Golden Eagles, Shepherd and Preece each doubled.

Paintsville plated six runs on seven hits. An efficient offensive attack for Paintsville included Lauffer (two hits, two RBIs), Kincheloe (one hit, one RBI), Brody Howell (two hits, one RBI), Riley Jayne (one hit, one RBI), Alex Kimbler (one hit) and Colton Short (one RBI) contributing at the plate.

Both Johnson Central and Paintsville advanced to the 15th Region Baseball Tournament.