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The Williamsburg Yellow Jackets are on fire. The diamond boys have won 9 of their last 11 games and are on a three game winning streak after Monday’s 15-4 whipping of Barbourville.
“We played better after the second or third inning,” said Williamsburg coach Don Stricklin. “We’re doing some things well but we need to stay sharp as we go into the one-game season (district).
“This is toughest week of the season on a coach,” said Stricklin. “We’re trying to find a game to keep the team sharp and we’re getting ready for the district tournament, it’s tough.”
The Jackets have scored 62 runs and pounded out 58 hits in the last three games which includes a 16-1 win over Pineville and a 21-1 rout of Berea.
In it’s most recent district win the Yellow Jackets actually came from a 2-0 deficit to win in six innings over the Tigers.
Williamsburg (15-7) threatened in the top of the first when Aaron Root and Brent Foley drew back to back walks from Travis Crawford. But the Tigers’ ace settled down and stuck out Andy Greer and got Matt Jones to ground into a fielder’s choice, getting Root at third. Cody Herrell ended the inning with a ground out to second.
The home team scored two runs in the bottom of the first when Worthy and Warren led off the inning with back to back singles. Crawford moved the runners into scoring position with a ground out to second. Matthew Cox doubled to left centerfield, scoring the two runners for a 2-0 lead. Cox was left stranded when Hammonds flew out to leftfield and Werth grounded out to Reynolds on the mound.
The Jackets’ bats came to life in the top of the second as the bottom of the order proved fatal for the Tigers. Reynolds helped his own cause with a triple to left centerfield. Will Moses knocked in Reynolds’ designated runner. The ball went in the dugout on the throw and Moses was awarded second.
Root smacked a two-out hit past Cox at shortstop as Moses tied the game, 2-2. Shelley, running for Root, scored on a Greer base hit to put the Jackets ahead 3-2.
Barbourville tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Graggs led off with a single and scored on a Worthy base hit.
Williamsburg took charge in the top of the fourth with a five-run, three-hit, three error inning.
Moses led off with a single to right field followed by Geoffrey Witt’s base hit through second. Back to back errors allowed Darrin Stanfill and Root to reach base as Moses and Witt scored.
Greer had a two-run double as Williamsburg moved ahead 7-3. He later scored on a Matt Jones hit to centerfield.
The Jackets added five more runs in the top of the fifth when Moses, Witt, Stanfill, Foley and Greer scored. Greer had a two-run triple in the inning.
Williamsburg put the game away in the sixth when Reynolds led off with a single. Kenley Bidwell, a sophomore, went in to run for Reynolds and went to second on a throwing error. Moses reached base for the fourth straight time on a walk. David Smith came in to pinch hit for Stanfill and smacked a single up the middle, driving in Bidwell for a 14-4 lead. Moses scored on a passed ball to finish off the Williamsburg scoring.
The Jackets will finish the regular season this week against Lynn Camp Thursday on the road. They were scheduled to play at Berea Tuesday night.
The Jackets will see the Wildcats of Lynn Camp again Monday in the first-round of the 50th District Tournament at Corbin. “It should be interesting,” said Stricklin. “We might end the regular season with them and meet them in the first game of the tournament. I’m sure David (Mitchell) will have someone ready to pitch.”

Williamsburg 030 552- 15 12 1
Barbourville 210 100- 4 8 4
Reynolds, Jones (6) and Root. Crawford, Cox (5), Jackson (6) and Hammonds. WP-Reynolds, LP-Crawford. 2B-Cox (B), Greer (W). 3B-Reynolds (W), Greer (W).
Berea 0 0 0 01- 1 2 3
Williamsburg (12)62 10- 21 20 1
Witt, Foley (3), Smith (5) and Root. 2B-Foley, Fields, Moses. 3B-Harrell. HR-Greer.

Pineville 000 10- 1 2 1
Williamsburg 20(13) 10- 16 16 2
Reynolds, Harrell (5) and Root. 2B-Root, Foley, Greer, Shelley, Harrell, Reynolds, Fields.