BASEBALL, SOFTBALL REGIONAL TOURNEYS START TODAY
Pikeville, Ky. — When the 15th Region Baseball/Softball Tournament gets underway on Memorial Day at Pike Co. Central The Lawrence Co. Bulldogs will be playing the ‘underDawg’ role and that might just fit both of these teams. The Dawgs and Lady Dawgs are both coming off three straight District championships but neither team will be the favorite in their respective tournaments.
Last year the Baseball Dawgs fell one game short of making back to back state tourney appearances with a loss to Johnson Central in the Region championship game. The Golden Eagles are the prohibitive favorite this year with the Dawgs and 59th Champ Pikeville right behind.
For Lawrence Co. in what some called a rebuilding year after losing so much talent off last years squad have battled injuries and departures in 2017. With junior shortstop Peyton Cyrus only playing 11 games, Junior Brad Parks and Sophomore Austin Roe have been the ‘one two punch’ at the top of the Dawgs order. Roe is leading the team in hitting at a .465 clip. and in hits with 47. Parks is hitting .405 scored a team high 49 runs and team leader in stolen bases with 15. Freshman Jackson Feltner is hitting .309 and drove in a team best 39 runs. CJ Fairchild and Parks are tied with the team lead in doubles with 12 and home runs with 2 apiece.
Freshman CJ Fairchild is the team leader in wins on the mound with a 8-3 record and a 1.74 era. 7th Grader Bryce Blevins is 6-1 with a 2.36 era. Junior Kade Sword is 4-1 with a 4.24 era.
Lawrence Co. will open up with 57th Runner up Paintsville ( 17-16 ) on Monday night at 6:30. The Tigers beat the Dawgs 3-1 on March 16th at Paintsville.
15th Region Baseball Schedule all games at Pike Co. Central
Action will get underway at 11:00 this morning with 57th Champ Johnson Central ( 28-7 ) and 58th Runner up Allen Central ( 10-25 )
At 1:30 it will be 59th Champ Pikeville ( 24-7 ) and 60th Runner up Pike Co. Central ( 20-16 )
At 4:00 it will be 58th Champ Prestonsburg ( 24-9 ) and 59th Runner up Shelby Valley ( 21-8 )
* At 6:30 it will be 60th Champ Lawrence Co. ( 22-11 ) and 57th Runner up Paintsville (17-16)
On Tuesday night at 6:00 it will be the winner of the 11:00 game and winner of the 1:30 game.
On Tuesday night at 8:30 it will be the winner of the 4:00 game and winner of the 6:30 game.
Championship game will be 7:00 Wednesday night.
LADY DAWGS IN ACTION TODAY (MONDAY)
Last year the Lady Dawgs lost a heartbreaker in the semifinals of the Region to eventual champion Johnson Central 2-1 in the semifinals. 57th Champ Johnson Central ( 15-9 ) and 59th Champ Pikeville ( 27-6 ) along with the Lady Dawgs are the favorites to win the 15th Region.
The Lady Dawgs open up the Region tourney with 58th Runner up South Floyd ( 8-14 ) at 2:00 on Monday afternoon. The two teams did not meet in the regular season.
Junior Ciana Bowen is the team leader in Home Runs and Wins in the circle. Seniors Natalie Rice and Haleigh Peck are looking for elusive Region championship in their last go around. Keyarah Bowen, Abby Fletcher and Brittany Shapaka have all chipped in with big hits this year. Halli Caudill and Amber Triplett are dangerous slap hitters.
15th Region Softball Schedule all games at Pike Co. Central
At Noon it will be 57th Champ Johnson Central ( 15-9 ) vs 59th Runner up East Ridge ( 17-14 )
* At 2:00 it will be 60th Champ Lawrence Co. ( 16-17 ) vs 58th Runner up South Floyd ( 8-14 )
At 4:00 it will be 59th Champ Pikeville ( 27-6 ) vs 57th Runner up Magoffin Co. ( 11-12 )
At 6:00 it will be 58th Champ Betsy Layne ( 6-14 ) vs 60th Runner up Belfry ( 21-13 )
First Semifinal will be Tuesday night at 6:30 with winners of the Noon and 2:00 games.
Second Semifinal will be Tuesday night at 8:30 with winners of the 4:00 and 6:00 games.
Championship will be Thursday night at 6:30 PM.
