Tigers capture 57th District title

Paintsville defeated Johnson Central 11-3 to win the 57th District baseball title. Photo courtesy of Paintsville High School

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Paintsville moved ahead early and never faltered on the way to defeating crosstown rival Johnson Central 11-3 in the 57th District Baseball Tournament title game on Wednesday, May 18.

The Tigers took control early, erupting for five runs in the bottom half of the first inning.

Paintsville added two runs in the bottom half of the second inning to lead 7-0 before district tournament host Johnson Central answered with its first run.

Zach Taylor started on the mound for the Tigers and earned the win. Taylor pitched three innings, allowing one run on two hits while recording three strikeouts.

Gunner Collins and Ashton Miller pitched in relief for Paintsville, throwing two innings apiece.

Cameron Kelsey suffered the loss on the mound for the Golden Eagles.

Leading Paintsville’s offensive attack, Austin Allen went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Tigers. Following Allen, Ashton Miller, Baron Ratliff and Jonah Porter each delivered two hits for former state champion Paintsville.

Miller and Porter each homered for the Tigers.

Plating multiple runs, Porter and Ratliff delivered four RBIs and two RBIs, respectively.

Conner Lemaster paced Johnson Central at the plate, belting a two-run home run for the Golden Eagles in the setback.

Also active offensively for Johnson Central, Kelsey singled and scored two runs.

Paintsville defeated Johnson Central for the third time in the 2022 high school baseball season.

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