Colonels take South Laurel, 3-1

Seniors Travis Inman and Shawn Harris proved to be too much for the South Laurel Cardinals Monday as the Colonels took the first game in the best of three series for the district seed, 3-1.

Inman was a perfect three-of-three at the plate with two-run homer, a double and a walk while Harris scattered four hits, gave up one run and struck out seven in a complete game.

“We made a couple of bobbles in the infield, other than that I think we played pretty good defense today,” said Whitley County Coach Burton Richardson.

 “We had some timely hits. Inman hit the home run and had another gaper. He hit the ball well today,” added Richardson.

“We had a good outing from Harris, he threw strikes all night long. He didn’t have any earned runs and if we had fielded a couple of balls on third he would have had a shutout,” he said.

“Overall, I was pleased besides a couple of mental bobbles and a base running mistake Inman made on that ground ball in the fourth inning. We should have scored another run there,” Richardson said.

It was just Richardson’s second game back since being sidelined with an illness. “I’m doing better now. I am going to have to have some work done on my leg but I think I am going to make it to summertime before I have to have it done.”

The Cardinals started eighth grader Zach Allen on the mound, an eight-grade catcher, Jon McFarland and eighth grade second baseman, Joe Gaines as South Laurel continues to battle injuries. However, the three looked anything but inexperienced against the Colonels.

Harris gave up his first hit of the game in the top of the first after striking out Trent Abner and Jessie Wilks. Sophomore Austin Moore landed a hit down the third base line before Harris got clean-up hitter, Alex Sears to fly out to Inman at center field.

The Colonels scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Tilmon Jackson got the Colonels off and running after drawing a walk. He went to second on a ground out by Dirk Berta. Inman followed with his home run to left field, giving the Colonels a 2-0 lead.

Harris got in trouble in the top of second when Chase McWhorter led off with a double to right center field. After senior MacKenzie Hicks popped out to Jordan Singleton at shortstop, Gaines hit into an infield error that left runners on the corners for the Cardinals.

Harris struck out Allen and it looked like the Colonels might come out of the inning untouched. However, McFarland’s grounder to third was misplayed and McWhorter crossed the plate for a 2-1 score.

Harris prevented the Cardinals from breaking the game open when he got Abner to ground out to the mound and the side was retired.

The defense settled down and didn’t allow a runner over the next three innings.

Whitley County took advantage of the young pitcher in the bottom of the fourth when Inman led off with a double. Allen hit Justin Partin with a pitch before Harris hit a ground ball to short, which forced a fielder’s choice.

Junior Jordan Inman drew a walk to load the bases, but Alex Rose popped up to the mound for the second out of the inning. A patient Dalton Siler drew a walk to force in Partin, giving the Colonels a 3-1 lead.

South Laurel Coach Wynn Harris sent another eighth grader, Daniel Neal, to the mound. Singleton followed with a hard line drive to second, but right to Gaines for the third out.

The Colonels’ defense came up big in the top of the sixth when the first two South Laurel batters, Wilks and Moore, reached base. Harris got out of the inning when Sears flew out to left field and McWhorter flew out to deep center field. He struck out Hicks for the final out of the inning.

After going down one-two-three, the defense was tested once again when Gaines pop up went over short and third. Singleton made a catch and roll and held onto the ball for the first out.

Neal followed with a single up the middle and pinch hitter Jake Miller hit a blooper to short right field. Neal held at third with Miller at first. With Abner at the plate, Miller tried to steal second, but Berta was perfect on the throw to Singleton at second for the out. Harris struck out Abner for the win.

The teams were scheduled to play in London Tuesday weather permitting. The Colonels are scheduled to play at Knox Central Thursday and host Richmond Model Friday.

Whitley Co. 3, South Laurel 1

South Laurel            010  000  0- 1  4  1

Whitley Co.            200  100  x- 3  3  4

Zach Allen, Daniel Neal and Jon McFarland. Shawn Harris and Dirk Berta. W-Harris, L-Allen. 2B-McWhorter (SL), Inman (WC). HR-Inman (WC).