Tigers shut out Golden Eagles, take 57th District title

Paintsville shut out crosstown rival Johnson Central to repeat as 57th District baseball champion. Photo courtesy of Paintsville High School

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Paintsville shut out crosstown rival Johnson Central 3-0 in the 57th District Baseball Tournament championship game at Charlie Adkins Field on Wednesday, May 17.

Connor Fugate pitched a one-hit shutout to lead Paintsville to the district championship-clinching victory. Claiming the win on the mound, Fugate registered 16 strikeouts. The University of Kentucky signee threw 99 pitches in the district title game.

Johnson Central starting pitcher Cameron Kelsey took the loss on the mound. Kelsey allowed three earned runs over three innings.

Splitting time on the mound with Kelsey, Brock Butcher pitched the final three innings for the Golden Eagles. Butcher held Paintsville scoreless while recording five strikeouts.

Paintsville plated three runs on eight hits. Peyton Adams (two hits), Harris Phelps (one hit, one RBI), Jonah Porter (one hit, one RBI), Anderson Lauffer (one hit, one RBI), Grayson Peters (one hit), AJ James (one hit) and Ashton Miller (one hit) each made an impact at the plate for the Tigers. Both Peters and Porter doubled.

Butcher collected Johnson Central’s lone hit, lacing a single into the outfield for the Golden Eagles.

Both Paintsville (27-8) and Johnson Central (20-14) advanced to the 15th Region Baseball Tournament.