TheTimesTribune.com, Corbin, KY

Local Sports

Related Photos

  • North Laurel's Makenlee Philpot is called out at home. Photo by Tim Branstetter

    0714 Makenlee Philpot .jpg

Discussion

July 13, 2012

Heartbreaker

North Laurel's bid to repeat as state champions comes up short

The Times-Tribune

CORBIN — By Tim Branstetter / Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — The North Laurel Minor League All-Stars got going a little too late as their sixth inning rally fell short and they suffered a 5-3 loss to Russell Flatwoods in the state championship game Thursday.

"We didn't get our bats going early," North Laurel coach Shane Brewer said. "They came out, put the ball in play and we misplayed some balls early."

The first two innings looked like a pitcher's dual as North Laurel's Madison McDaniel and Russell Flatwood's Sara Hieneman were pacing their teams in the circle, but North Laurel misplayed a ground ball with two outs on the board and Russell Flatwoods broke the ice with a 1-0 lead. Hieneman lost to North Laurel in the state championship game as a 9-year-old, but was able to redeem herself Thursday.

Russell Flatwoods added two more runs on a single to take a 3-0 lead before North Laurel could get out of the inning.

North Laurel trailed 5-0 after five innings and found themselves down to three outs remaining, but were able to get some offense going in the top of the sixth inning. Madison Sechrest and McDaniel started the sixth inning off with back-to-back singles and they both advanced on a wild pitch. Makenlee Philpot stepped up and drove in Sechrest with an RBI single to give North Laurel its first run of the game.

McDaniel scored on a passed ball and North Laurel managed to close the gap at 5-2. Philpot tried to take advantage of another passed ball, but was called out at home plate. Brewer didn't agree with the call.

"She made it, I seen it perfect," he said. "I was in the first base box, her foot was on the plate and she gets tagged above the knee. I questioned the call and he said she didn't reach home. I showed him where her cleat mark was right on the corner of the plate, but that's ball."

Olivia Miller, Hannah Carson and Emily Albright walked to load the bases for North Laurel with only one out on the board. Beth Marcum stepped to the plate with two outs and was able to walk in a run to close the gap at 5-3, but that was as close as they could get.

"Whoever scores first in games like this gets the momentum," Brewer said. "You have to try to regain it and we didn't regain it until our last at bat. It was a little too late to try to strike. The girls played their hearts out though and they didn't give up."

Text Only
Local Sports
  • 0521 nlhs baseball champions.jpg Twice as Nice

    With a 6-3 win over the Clay County Tigers, the North Laurel Jaguars became back-to-back 49th District Champions on Monday night.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • Moving On

    Corbin’s Kevin Goins has come to be known as Mr. Reliable on the pitcher’s mound this season and Monday wasn’t any different for the junior hurler.

    May 21, 2013

  • Eight is Enough

    The North Laurel Lady Jaguars captured their eighth straight 49th District Championship on Monday night with an 8-1 win over the Clay County Lady Tigers.

    May 21, 2013

  • Cardinals breeze by Williamsburg in 10-0 win

    The South Laurel Cardinals came into Monday’s game with one goal in mind and head coach Wynn Harris wasn’t about to let his team forget about it.

    May 21, 2013

  • Lady Hounds outlast Whitley

    Sydney Reynolds went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and Hannah Hart tallied seven strikeouts to lead Corbin past Whitley County, 5-1.

    May 21, 2013

  • Lady Cards cruise past Williamsburg

    The South Laurel Lady Cardinals made quick work of the Williamsburg Lady Yellow Jackets Monday, using a 14-0 win to advance to the 50th District finals today.

    May 21, 2013

  • Panthers pound Lynn Camp, 21-0

    Brandon Hillard’s Knox Central Panthers took care of business and advanced to the 51st District title game by knocking off Lynn Camp Monday with ease, 21-0.

    May 21, 2013

  • 0520 whs Natalie Croley.jpg Mixed Results

    Lynn Camp, Williamsburg and Whitley County had student-athletes that participated in the Class A and Class 3A State Track and Field Meets on Saturday, but none came up with any team points.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • 0331 Fear Les Diamond Ratings.jpg Fear 'Les' 13th Region Diamond Rankings

    With post-season beginning today, I figured I should release my post-season rankings before district tournaments begin.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • 13th District Tournaments Schedule

    May 20, 2013