Prestonsburg’s AJ Johnson throws out a pitch against Johnson Central.
Floyd Chronicle and Times photo by Adam Mahan
Johnson Central’s Kaden Litteral and Kyle Rose combined to shutout the Prestonsburg Blackcats’ bats going six innings giving up no runs on two hits, while walking three batters and striking out two batters.
The Golden Eagles also took advantage of the Blackcats’ errors and mistakes to cruise to a 10-0 win over Prestonsburg in six innings last Thursday at Johnson Central High School.
In the bottom of the first, Johnson Central’s Chase Preece drove in a run on a ground out to give the Golden Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
A couple of batters later, the Golden Eagles saw their lead increase to 2-0 when Dawson Montgomery was able to score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning.
With the bases loaded, Kaden Litteral drew a walk to bring home another run to push Johnson Central’s lead to 3-0.
On the next at-bat, Alex Marcum was able to reach on a Blackcats’ error letting another Golden Eagles’ runner to score to increase Johnson central’s lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
Johnson Central took advantage again of mistakes made by Prestonsburg in the bottom of the second inning when Dalton Boner reached on another Blackcat error allowing a Golden Eagles’ runner to score to increase Johnson Central’s lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
In the bottom of the third, Johnson Central pounced on the opportunity when Braxton Perry reached on an error allowing two runs to score to increase the lead to 7-0.
On the very next at-bat, Brayden Shepherd hit a sacrifice fly driving in another run to push Johnson Central’s lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
Johnson Central was able to take advantage of another Blackcats’ mistake when Kyler Callaham was able to score on a passed ball to increase Johnson Central’s lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Johnson Central was looking to add the final run in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game.
Johnson Central’s Kaleb Callaham delivered with a walk-off RBI single to let the Golden Eagles fly away with the 10-0 win in six innings.
Litteral got the win on the mound for the Golden Eagles as he went four innings giving up zero runs on two hits, while walking three batters.
Rose went two innings giving up no runs on no hits, while striking out three batters.
Johnson central was led at the plate by Kaleb Callaham who was one of three with one RBI. Dalton Boner was one of two at the plate with one run scored, while walking two times.
With the win, Johnson Central picked up their sixth win in a row and 20th win on the season improving to 20-7 overall on the season. Up next for the Golden Eagles is two big 15th Region showndowns to end the season. The first being on Thursday, May 15 at home against the Pikeville Panthers set to begin at 6:00 p.m. and then the season finale on Friday, May 16 on the road again Prestonsburg set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Prestonsburg’s AJ Johnson took the loss on the mound going 1/3 of an inning giving up four runs (three earned) on no hits, while walking two batters and striking out no batters.
The Blackcats’ Johnson and Brady Allen both led Prestonsburg at the plate going one for one and Allen walked one time.
With the loss, Prestonsburg fell to 8-17 overall on the season. Up next for the Balckcats will also be two big 15th Region showdowns to close out the season. First one is Thursday, May 15 at home against the Paintsville Tigers set to begin at 6:30 p.m., and then on Friday, May 16 the season finale at home against the Johnson Central Golden Eagles set to begin at 6:30 p.m.