CORBIN — Gary Tillery’s Jackson County Lady Generals captured their first 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament win in exactly 22 years thanks to a 5-2 victory over 52nd District champion Harlan on Monday.
The Lady Generals (24-10) received a home run by senior Josie Starcher while taking advantage of five Lady Green Dragon errors to pull off the win.
Jackson County also received another stellar effort from junior ace Candice Williams, who captured her 22nd win of the season while allowing only three hits, and two earned runs. She also struck out 10 batters.
The last time the Lady Generals had won a 13th Region Tournament game came on May 27, 2002 with a 10-9 victory over Cumberland High School.
Jackson County’s Starcher broke up a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning with a home run over the right field fence to give a Jackson County a 1-0 lead.
Harlan tied the game at one apiece in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a leadoff triple by Ella Lisenbee, who eventually scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Generals answered with some two-out magic in the top of the fifth.
Starcher connected with a two-out single to begin the rally while Blakelynn Fee followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Baylee Berry then reached base on an error, scoring Starcher and Fee to give Jackson County a 3-1 edge.
Tillery’s squad added another run in the fifth inning thanks to a run-scoring groundout Ella Sallee that scored Williams, giving the Lady Generals a 4-1 advantage.
Jackson County’s lead increased to 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a run-scoring single by Fee.
Harlan got on the scoreboard one final time in the bottom of the seventh as Addison Jackson connected with her 10th home run of the season.
Starcher led Jackson County with a 2-for-2 effort while driving in a run and scoring three times. Fee had two hits, an RBI, and a run scored while Sallee finished with an RBI, and Williams scored once.
Jackson had a hit, an RBI, and a run scored for the Lady Green Dragons while Lisenbee finished with a hit and a run scored. Ally Kirby had a hit.
