Johnson Central didn’t get off to the best start.
In fact the Golden Eagles fell behind Lawrence County 8-0 last Friday night.
Johnson Central didn’t let the slow start deter them as their bats got hot.
The Golden Eagles hit three home runs to help them pull off a huge 11-9 comeback against Lawrence County.
It got off to a rocky start out of the gates for Johnson Central as the Golden Eagles’ Rose walked the first two Bulldogs’ batters which led to Lawrence County on the next at-bat to take 2-0 on a two RBI double by the Bulldogs’ Colin Howard in the top of the first inning.
As the Golden Eagles’ Rose looked to have settled down and got two of the next three Bulldogs’ batters out with a walk sandwiched in between the two outs now had Johnson Central now looking to get out with minimal damage done with two out now in the top of the first inning.
Turned out not to be the case for Johnson Central because the Bulldogs’ Boedy Maynard hit a two out RBI single on the next at bat to keep the Bulldog’s rally going and increased Lawrence County’s lead to 4-0 in the top of the first inning.
Things continued to spiral for Johnson Central after the Golden Eagles hit the next to Bulldogs’ batters to load the bases for the Bulldogs in the top of the first inning.
On the next at-bat, the Bulldogs’ increased their lead to 7-0 after a two-out two RBI single by Eli Fletcher, but another Bulldogs runner was able to score after an error by Johnson Central on the play in the top of the first inning.
Then on the next at-bat, the Bulldogs scored again on a two-out RBI single by Gray Derifield to increase the lead to 8-0, but the Golden Eagles were able to end the horror show and the Bulldogs’ rally by getting the next Bulldogs’ batter to pop out to end the top the first inning.
As the Golden Eagles were looking to strike back at Lawrence county in the bottom of the first inning, the Golden Eagles saw their opportunity after Johnson Central’s Chase Preece and Mason McKenzie were both hit-by-pitches in back-to back at bats to set up the Golden Eagles’ dalton Boner’s one-out three run homerun a couple batters later to let Johnson Central cut Lawrence County’s to 8-3 in the bottom of the first inning.
After the Golden Eagles’ Boner drew a one out walk. That set up Kaden Litteral. He hit a two-out two run home run to cut Lawrence County’s lead to 8-5 in the bottom of the third inning.
As Johnson Central’s pitching held the Bulldogs in check-in the top of the fourth inning, the Golden Eagles were looking to keep the bats going in the bottom of the fourth inning.
When the Golden Eagles’ Braxton Perry led the bottom of the fourth inning with a single, but was followed up by a two run home run by the Golden Eagles’ Chase Preece to cut Lawrence County’s lead to 8-7.
Then a couple of batters later, Johnson Central’s Kyler Callaham hit a one-out double, but then on the next at-bat, he was able to score to tie the game at 8-8 on a RBI sacrifice fly by Boner in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Lawrence County was able to respond and get things going again in the top of the fifth inning when Cameron Perkins reached on a two out error by Johnson Central.
The Bulldogs to took the at 9-8 on the next at-bat when Eli Fletcher hit a two out RBI double in the top of the fifth inning.
Johnson Central was looking to keep the bats rolling in the bottom of the fifth inning. Litteral walked to start the inning, but then moved to second by a sacrifice bunt by Alex Marcum making one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.
On the next at-bat, Kaleb Callaham was hit-by-a pitch, but then on the next at-bat Perry hit a one out single to load the bases for Johnson Central with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Johnson Central was able to take its first lead of the game at 10-8 on a one out two RBI single by Preece in the bottom of the fifth inning.
One the very next at-bat, the Golden Eagles increased their lead to 11-9 on a two out RBI single by Mason McKenzie in the bottom of the fifth inning.
As Johnson Central’s pitching and defense was stellar in the last two innings shutting the Bulldogs’ bats down leading the Golden Eagles to the 11-9 come-from-behind win over the Lawrence County Bulldogs.
Johnson Central’s Kaleb Callaham got the win on the mound as he pitched four innings giving up one run on three hits, while walking one batter and striking out three batters.
Preece led the Golden Eagles at the plate going two for two with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Boner went one of two, with a home run, four RBIs, one run scored, and walking one time. Kaden Litteral was one of two at the plate, with a home run, two RBIs, Two runs scored, while walking twice. Perry was two of three at the plate with one run scored.
With the win, Johnson central improved to 12-4 overall on the season. Up Next for Johnson Central will be Friday, April 25 Russell County at Apollo High School in the Kentucky 2A Championships State Baseball Tournament set to begin at 3:00 p.m.
Lawrence County was led at the plate by Fletcher who was two of two with a double, three RBIs, two runs scored, while walking two times. Maynard was two of four at the plate with two RBIs, one run scored. Colin Howard was one of four at the plate with a double, two RBIs, and one run scored.
The Bulldog’s Logan Whisenant took the loss on the mound as he went three and 1/3 innings giving up eight runs (eight earned) on six hits while striking one batter, and walking one batter.
With the loss, Lawrence County fell to 10-8 overall on the season. The loss also ended a four game win streak for the Bulldogs. Next up for Lawrence County will be Thursday, April 24 on the road against the Morgan County Cougars set to begin at 6:00 p.m.
