Around the Diamond: April 18, 2023
James Collier
The Ashland Beacon
64th DISTRICT
ASHLAND 7-14
Ashland went 3-2 this week with wins over Spring Valley, Russell and Lawrence County. The Tomcats fell to Ironton, 10-4 and Raceland, 12-1 in five innings.
LaBryant Strader went 2 for 4 with a double and a pair of RBIs to lead Ashland to an 8-1 win over Spring Valley. Ryan Brown worked 6 1/3 innings while striking out eight. He also had a pair of hits. Sawyer Edens drove in a pair of runs.
Layne Brammer and Edens combined to beat Russell, 8-4. Brammer struck out seven over five innings and Edens fanned three in his two innings of relief while striking out three. Brown went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. Edens homered in his only hit.
Ashland has three away games this week at Fairview Monday, East Carter Wednesday and Lewis County Thursday.
BOYD COUNTY 15-3-1
Boyd County went 4-0 this week with wins over Raceland, Fairview and Pikeville.
JK McKnight tossed a one hitter in a five-inning shortened contest due to the mercy rule to defeat Raceland, 11-0. McKnight fanned 11. Brogan Jones went 2 for 3 with a double and 2RBI. Jacob Vanover, Alex Martin and McKnight all doubled. Michael Potter launched a solo homerun in the fifth.
Boyd County defeated Fairview 13-1 and 9-1 in a district twin bill. Cayden Butler worked six innings and struck out seven in the 13-1 win. Brayden Coleman and Vanover each had a pair of hits. Grant Slater tossed a complete five inning no-hit game and struck out seven in the 9-1 win. Caleb Gray went 2 for 3 with 3RBI. Martin doubled and tripled.
Boyd County welcomes Greenup County Thursday, plays Belfry and Johnson Central Friday and Paintsville Saturday in the City Between the Lakes Classic.
FAIRVIEW 6-9
Fairview went 0-4 this week with losses to Bath County, Boyd County and Portsmouth West.
Tanner Johnson worked six innings in a 1-0 loss to Bath County. He struck out seven and allowed only three hits. Johnson went 2 for 3 at the plate with two doubles.
Izaac Johnson had a pair of hits in Fairview’s 9-1 loss to Boyd County.
Cameron Harper worked six innings and struck out eight in a 5-3 loss to Portsmouth West. Tamel Smith went 2 for 4. Richard Vanhoose doubled in the loss.
Fairview welcomes Ashland Monday, visits Elliott County Wednesday, welcomes Greenup County Friday and Morgan County Saturday.
ROSE HILL 3-4
Rose Hill defeated Tolsia, WV, 9-8 and Elliott County, 17-8. No stats were reported.
Rose Hill visits Menifee County Monday, welcomes Cross Lanes Christian Tuesday and Hannan, WV Thursday.
63rd DISTRICT
RACELAND 13-3
Raceland went 2-1 this week with wins over Point Pleasant, WV, 10-2 and Ashland, 12-1. Raceland fell to Boyd County, 11-0.
Connor Thacker went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and picked up the win from the mound against the Tomcats. Brayden Webb had a round tripper and knocked in three runs.
Raceland opens district play with a trip to Greenup County Monday, welcomes the Musketeers Tuesday, visits Buffalo Thursday and meets Pikeville Friday in the All “A” State Tournament Semi-State round.
RUSSELL 6-7
Russell went 2-1 this week with a loss to Ashland and a pair of wins over Belfry.
Russell fell to Ashland, 8-4. Nathan Totten went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Parker Mitchell went 2 for 3. Trey Berry added a double.
Russell defeated Belfry 17-9 and 8-7.
Russell visits Lewis County Monday to start district play, welcomes Lewis County Tuesday, visits Rowan County Friday and Pikeville Saturday.
GREENUP COUNTY 8-12
Greenup County went 3-2 this week with wins over Rowan County, 4-1, and Estill County, 14-4, in the Kentucky 2A Sectionals. Greenup County defeated Western Brown, OH, 16-6. The Musketeers fell to Campbell County, 4-3 and Turpin, OH, 12-5.
Carson Wireman struck out five and allowed only two hits in the five inning win over Estill County. The Musketeers had an eight run fourth inning highlighted by a Jack Gullett home run.
Greenup County welcomes Raceland Monday, visits Raceland Tuesday, Boyd County Thursday and Fairview Friday.