Lady Eagles wins seventh straight 57th District title

photo courtesy of Johnson Central High School Johnson Central won the 2023 57th District Softball Championship on Thursday, May 18.

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Johnson Central defeated crosstown rival Paintsville 14-6 to win its seventh straight 57th District softball title on Thursday, May 18.

The Lady Eagles scored first and never trailed.

Johnson Central starting pitcher Maddie Vaughn claimed the win in the circle. Vaughn pitched five innings, allowing four earned runs while registering eight strikeouts.

Keylee Blair closed out the game for Johnson Central, pitching the final two innings. Blair held Paintsville scoreless during her stint in the circle.

Paintsville pitcher Laney Bledsoe took the loss in the circle.

Johnson Central scored 14 runs on 12 hits. Vaughn (three hits, three RBIs), Mayson Delong (three hits, five RBIs), Carrigan Ratliff (two hits, one RBI), Josie Dials (one hit, three RBIs), Adyson Burchett (one hit, one RBI), Randi Delong (one hit, one RBI) and Abbie Stambaugh (one hit) excelled at the plate for the Lady Eagles. Vaughn, Dials and Mayson Delong each homered for the Lady Eagles.

Both Johnson Central (24-9) and Paintsville (12-21) advanced to the 15th Region Softball Tournament.