Tigers sweep Golden Eagles in 57th District series

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Paintsville swept crosstown rival Johnson Central in a 57th District baseball series, winning 3-0 and 7-4 in back-to-back games Tuesday, April 18-Wednesday, April 19.

Both Paintsville and Johnson Central will compete in the 57th District Baseball Tournament in May.

Paintsville 7, Johnson Central 4: Paintsville topped Johnson Central 7-4 in a 57th District baseball game at Paul G. Fyffe Field on Wednesday, April 19.

The victory allowed Paintsville to sweep the two teams’ annual 57th District regular season series.

Pitching relief for Paintsville, Zach Cline claimed the win. Jonah Porter, another pitcher working in relief for Paintsville, picked up the save. Cline and Porter pitched two innings apiece for the Tigers.

Ashton Miller started on the mound for Paintsville and pitched three innings.

Brock Butcher, one of three pitchers to pitch in relief for Johnson Central, worked two innings from the mound and suffered the loss. Along with Butcher, Ethan McCarty and Gavin Crum pitched in relief for the Golden Eagles.

Hunter Blevins started on the mound for Johnson Central and pitched four innings.

Paintsville plated seven runs on nine hits. Porter (two hits), Miller (one hit), Dixon Kincheloe (two hits, one RBI), Grayson Peters (one hit, two RBIs), Austin Allen (one hit, one RBI), Harris Phelps (one hit, one RBI), Peyton Adams (one hit) and AJ James (one RBI) each contributed offensively for the Tigers. Providing a lift at the plate for Paintsville, Peters homered.

Butcher (one hit), Chase Preece (one hit, two RBIs), Brayden Shepherd (one hit) and Gavin Crum (one hit) each connected at the plate for the Golden Eagles. Preece, who drove in two runs, homered for the Golden Eagles.

Paintsville 3, Johnson Central 0: University of Kentucky signee Connor Fugate pitched a three-hit shutout to lead Paintsville past Johnson Central 3-0 at Charle Adkins Field on Tuesday, April 18.

Fugate claimed the win on the mound, registering 13 strikeouts.

Dawson Montgomery started on the mound for Johnson Central and took the loss. Montgomery allowed two earned runs on three hits while recording eight strikeouts.

Paintsville plated three runs on five hits. Austin Allen (two hits), Brock Horne (one hit, one RBI), Peyton Adams (one hit, one RBI) and Jonah Porter (one hit, one RBI) each connected at the plate for Paintsville in its shutout win. Porter homered while Allen doubled.

Cameron Kelsey, Cole Ward and Brayden Shepherd finished with one hit apiece for Johnson Central in the district game. Supplying an extra-base hit, Ward doubled.