COLONELS POP CARDS

 The Whitley County Colonels are hot! Coach Rob Ledington’s Colonels defeated South Laurel Monday, 5-3 and won their 11^th game in the last 12 starts. It was their sixth in a row.

The win also allowed the Colonels to tie the Cardinals for first in the district standings with a 4-1 record and assured Whitley County of at least the number two seed. The teams were scheduled for a second game in London Tuesday afternoon with the top seed on the line.

The Colonels jumped on the Cardinals for a run in the bottom of the first when leadoff batter, Cody Jones hit a single and stole second. He scored on a one-out base hit by David Rose.

Whitley County (12-8) scored a run in the bottom of the second as well but missed on an opportunity to break the game open.  Jericho Moses opened the inning with a double. Jeremy followed with a base hit, leaving runners on the corners for the Colonels. However, South Laurel pitcher, Matthew Martin picked off Moses before Trey Jarboe smacked a double into left centerfield for a 2-0 lead.

Jarboe was left stranded at third after Jeremy Daniels routine grounder to third and a strike out by Jones.

Whitley County senior pitcher, Ted Clifford got into trouble in the top of the third when he loaded the bases with one out. With the hard-hitting Luke Rakestraw at the plate, the Cardinals were poised to do some damage. However, Rakestraw lined the ball back to Clifford for the out and a throw to first caught Chris Adams off the plate for the double play.

The Colonels answered with three runs in the home half of the inning and took a 5-0 lead. Jeremy Berta, Clifford and Travis Inman all scored. Jarboe had a two-run single up the middle.

Whitley County had to fight off several South Laurel rallies to win the game. The Cardinals (13-3) scored one in the top of the fourth. Ryan Woody walked to lead off the inning then scored on a Martin double to left field. Peters followed with a walk but the Colonels got out of the inning when Reynolds grounded out to first, Gilbert popped out to third and Baker hit a deep fly ball to left field.

The Colonels escaped the fifth with just two runs when the Cardinals rallied with two outs. Rakestraw hit a single to get the rally started then scored on a Woody double down the first base line. Martin hit a single up the middle to score Woody and the Cards were within two, 5-3. Clifford got Peters to ground out to end the inning.

Whitley County missed on an opportunity to add to their lead when Inman and Moses had back-to-back one-out singles. But, a pop out by Berta and a strike out to Jarboe killed the inning.

Jones had a chance to score in the bottom of the sixth but was halted at third base. He led off with an infield hit then stole second base. He went to third on a sacrifice fly by Berta. Rose hit into a ground ball to short to end the inning.

Whitley County ended the game with a fine defensive stop. With one out, Rakestraw singled up the middle before Woody hit a textbook double play to Jordon Singleton at short. Singleton stepped on second and threw out Woody going to first.

“It was a big win,” said Whitley County Coach Rob Ledington. “We have been playing well as of late and what that does for us is it proves that we are as good as anybody in the region and we can compete with anybody in our region and we believe that.”

“But, more importantly if we perform well tomorrow (Tuesday) and get a win it makes us the number one seed in the district and I don’t know if that has ever happened,” Ledington said.

“Right now this club is starting to perform at the level that I expect a regional contender to perform,” said Ledington.

“Our pitching and defense has been solid from day one and that’s something we have worked on from day one, pitching and defense,” said Ledington. “I’ve been around the block a little but and I know that’s what wins you ball games and that’s what won us our game today.”

“We’ve been blowing people out our last five or six games, but today we had to win it with pitching and defense and we did that,” added Ledington.

The Colonels are scheduled to go to Bell County Thursday before playing in the Diamond Classic in London this weekend. They are scheduled to meet Clay County and North Laurel Friday. Lincoln County will be the opponent Saturday.

Whitley County 5, South Laurel 3

South Laurel            000  120  0- 3    7  1

Whitley Co.            113  000  0- 5  11  0

  Luke Rakestraw and Ryan Woody. Ted Clifford and Dirk Berta. W-Clifford, L-Rakestraw. 2B-Moses WC), Jarboe (WC), Martin (SL), Woody (SL).

Whitley Co. 11, Wayne Co. 2

Wayne Co.             000  200  0-   2    3   1

Whitley Co.            711  020  x- 11  12   1

  Stokes and Dishman. Miller and Berta. W-Miller, L-Stokes. 2B-Clifford (WC). 3B-Moses (WC).

Whitley Co. 14, Harlan Co. 4

Harlan Co.             000  13-   4    5  1

Whitley Co.             109  22- 14  11  3

  Zach Blanton and Paul Creech. Sage and Berta. W-Sage, L-Blanton. 2B-Rose (WC), Jarboe (WC).