By KYLE LOVERN
Sports Editor
GOODY, Ky. – For the sixth year in a row the Belfry Pirates have won the 60th District baseball tournament as they defeated Pike County Central 13-0 Wednesday night at Massey Energy Field at Goody.
The Pirates have already matched the most wins in a single season with 24 against only eight losses. The win total matches the total wins by the 1998 team, according to longtime scorekeeper Bennett West, who is also the school’s sports information director.
Belfry jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning and cruised to an easy win. Winning pitcher Tyler Williams threw a 1-hitter for the Pirates – his second in a row. The senior has been an ace all season long for head coach Michael Hagy.
“You always hope for this in tournament play, but you don’t always do that,” Hagy said. “I can’t say enough about Tyler. He has pitched a lot of big games for us over the last four years.”
“Every time we’ve needed him, he comes through for us,” Hagy added. “He came out with one of his better performances.”
As usual Howie Dotson got things started off for the Pirates in his leadoff spot with a single. Hit moved to second base when Zack Francisco was hit by a pitch. Williams then helped his own cause with a base hit to score Dotson. Joey Duty followed with another RBI single to score Francisco.
Keaton Taylor, who was the courtesy runner for Williams, scored on a hit by Zac Fields to give the Bucs a 3-0 lead. Keegan Fields reached first base on an error by the Pike Central shortstop and another run scored.
Eli Huddle walked to load the bases as the first inning rally continued. Then Reed Williamson knocked in a pair of runs with another Belfry single. Francisco, batting for the second time in the inning, brought in two more runs with another hit to give his team an 8-0 advantage.
“Offensively every game Howie (Dotson) is our table setter and he did that again tonight,” Hagy added. “The importance of getting him on base really changes the game for us.”
Hagy praised his other two seniors Keegan Fields and Jared Masters. “If you’re going to win games like this, you need leadership from your seniors.”
Dotson had an RBI single in the 3rd inning to score Keegan Fields. Williams got another run in on a groundout fielder’s choice, which scored Reed Williamson. Dotson scored from third base on a botched pickoff attempt. Taylor scored another run on an error by the second baseman, which enabled Madison Ghormley to reach first. At that point Belfry led 12-0.
The Hawks got their only hit from Andrew Fields in the top of the 4th inning, a hard grounder that skipped past Williamson at short.
Belfry added another insurance run in the bottom of the 4th frame after Keegan Fields lined a single to left field and Williamson smacked a 2-out single to put Fields in scoring position. Dotson got another RBI single for the Pirates to make it 13-0.
Both teams will now head to regional tournament action next week which will be played at Pikeville. The drawing for the tourney will be held Sunday evening.
Blake Clark took the loss on the mound for the Hawks. PCHS now has a record of 12-12.
The All-District players were announced after the game. They included Dotson, Williams and Francisco from Belfry, Clark and Robbie Hopkins from Pike Central and Zack Avina from Phelps. (A picture of the All-District picks will appear in the WDN this weekend.)
Score by innings:
PCHS .. 0 0 0 0 0 – 0
BHS … 8 0 4 1 x - 13
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