ROBINSON CREEK — The rain was coming.
Before it got there, Shelby Valley used a big third inning to pick up a 4-1 win over Letcher Central before the game was called due to weather.
In the bottom of the fourth, Bryce Bentley hit a leadoff single to get things going. Riley Newsome followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt to move Bentley to second. Lincoln Taylor followed with an RBI single to score Bentley and give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
With one out and one on in the bottom of the fourth, Kobe Fields drew a walk. Gavin Tackett reached on an error to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and one out, Jake Mullins stole home to push the lead to 2-0. Braden Harris followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 3-0.
Letcher Central got a run back in the top of the fifth.
With one out, Kolby Watts singled. Koby Johnson was hit-by-a-pitch. Watts and Johnson followed with a double steal to put both runners in scoring position. Caanan Herrell hit into a fielder’s choice, but Watts scored to cut the lead to 3-1.
With two outs, Dawson Kincer singled to keep the inning alive, but Shelby Valley got a pop out to end the top of the fifth.
The Wildcats got the run back in the home half of the inning.
Evan Bell drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Bentley singled. Newsome followed with a walk to load the bases. Taylor hit a sacrifice fly RBI to push the lead to 4-1.
The game ended soon after due to weather in the top of the sixth.
Shelby Valley pitcher Colton Varney picked up the win. He tossed an excellent game as he went five innings and gave up one run on three hits and a walk, while striking out three batters.
Quinton Williams suffered the loss for Letcher Central. Williams went four innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk, while striking out five batters.
Jayden Wright tossed one inning of work for the Cougars. He gave up one run on one hit and two walks, with no strikeouts.