FLEMINGSBURG —
Russell-Flatwoods faced both familiar and uncharted situations Saturday.
Both worked out. Russell-Flatwoods won its fifth straight postseason game by holding off Fleming County, 13-8, in the opening game of the best-of-3 Little League age 11-12 tournament at Fleming County Recreation Park.
“We thought (Saturday) was going to be a tough game,” Russell-Flatwoods coach Brent Blevins said. “Fleming County's a great team.”
Saturday was the same for Russell-Flatwoods because of its offense – 68 runs in the Area 2 tournament and 81 altogether. Last night, nine of 10 had at least one hit.
“Everybody on the team can hit a home run,” Blevins said. “I've seen every one of them hit a home run.”
The difference? Russell-Flatwoods had allowed just one run before last night.
Fleming County erased an 8-2 deficit by scoring three runs in the fourth (nine batters went to the plate) and two more in the eight.
“I'm proud of my team,” Fleming County coach Randy Crump said. “I thought we gave them all they wanted.”
Blevins saw two home runs last night — Chaz Whitt and Grant Bates each parked one over the center field fence in a five-run second inning – but catcher Seth Atkins was the hitting star because his fifth-inning, two-run double off Joshua Crump led another five-run outburst.
“It was high and outside,” Atkins said of Crump's knuckleball, a pitch he has seen before. “I just like to swing at it, I guess.”
First baseman Caleb Frye led Russell-Flatwoods with four hits. Atkins had two singles to go with his double, and Wes Patterson added two doubles.
Fleming County took an 1-0 lead on a Russell-Flatwoods error, followed by Russell-Flatwoods' two runs on Frye's double.
“It was a fastball down the middle,” Frye said.
Russell-Flatwoods surrendered just one run in the Area 2 tournament, but Fleming County doubled that total with two runs in the second.
Blevins deployed what you might call a Rush Limbaugh pitching strategy because it was conservative. He pulled Whitt and Frye after both had thrown 35 pitches because he wanted to have them available if a deciding third game had to be played Monday, and he said he would have used the entire team if he had to.
“All 10 kids can pitch,” Blevins said.
Fleming County converted three singles, a wild pitch and an error into three runs in the fourth, and after Russell-Flatwoods scored its eighth run in the fourth on Frye's single to left, a wild pitch and Jordan Hughes' single tied the game at 8-8.
Randy Crump said Harrison Fryman, whom he said is related to the late former major league pitcher and Fleming County native Woodie Fryman, would start today. Blevins said Casey Hensley is his team's likely starter.
FLEMING CO. 120 320 — 8 6 2
R-FLATWOODS 250 15x — 13 16 5
Crump, Fryman (5) and Tolle. Whitt, Frye (3), Gillum (4) and Brinkman, Atkins (4). W-Gillum. L-Crump. 2B: Frye (R-F), Patterson (R-F) 2, . HR: Whitt (R-F), Bates (R-F), Atkins (R-F).
Local Sports
Five times a winner for Russell -Flatwoods
Two big innings lead 11-12 All-Stars to fifth-straight win
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Locals struggle to make impact
Some days you are the windshield and some days you are the bug.
It is a saying that proved to be all too true for Rowan County on Friday night at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships at the University of Louisville’s Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park. -
Rough Ending
Fairview senior Kennedy Womack wasn’t her consistent self in Saturday morning’s state tennis semifinals at the University of Kentucky’s Hilary Boone Tennis Complex.
As a result, the top seed fell to Lexington Sayre sophomore Madeline Rolph 6-1, 6-0.
Womack was obviously disappointed with her finish, especially after losing in last year’s state finals, but she was happy for her good friend Rolph. -
FLYING HIGH
If Fairview could have fielded a combined track and field team at Saturday’s Class A State Track and Field Championships, the Eagles and Lady Eagles would have had a record day. Instead, the Fairview girls had to “settle” for fifth, while the boys’ claimed 10th.
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Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
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Big-inning Dawgs
It looked for a while that a questionable call may have determined the outcome of the game, but in the end, it was just an afterthought.
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Boyd County finds senior spark
Losers of four straight, Boyd County was searching for something positive Friday night before beginning postseason play Monday night.
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Doubles teams head to semis at state tourney
With rain staying away, the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament got into full swing on Friday afternoon.
Semifinals and finals will be held today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex for boys and girls singles competitions. -
McKnight hurdling to Georgetown
Fairview’s Paige McKnight is known for jumping hurdles. She cleared a pretty big one on Thursday.
In front of friends and family at Fairview Elementary School, McKnight signed a letter of intent to run track for Georgetown College. -
Several area schools will be represented at State Track and Field championships
Local track and field athletes are ready to try to carry region competition success onto the state stage.
Several area schools will be represented at this weekend’s State Track and Field championships at the University of Louisville. The Class 2A meet is set for today at 3:15 p.m. and Class A competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. -
EAST KENTUCKY BASKETBALL HISTORY: Reflections on 'The Shot'
Paintsville High School legend J.R. VanHoose is also an eastern Kentucky basketball sports historian. This is one in an ongoing series of stories.
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