15th Region softball tournament begins Monday; baseball resumes today

May 28—GOODY — The bracket for the 15th Region softball tournament was revealed on Friday.

Defending region champion Johnson Central will meet host Belfry (17-10) in the opening round on Monday at 3. The Golden Eagles won the 57th District title by a combined 20-0 score.

Mayson and Randi Delong lead Johnson Central (22-13) in batting with a .477 and .442 average, respectively. Randi Delong has hit nine long balls. She has collected 19 extra-base hits and leads the team with 38 RBIs.

Pikeville (21-12) and Floyd Central (14-17) open the event in the first matchup at 11 a.m.

Paintsville plays Pike County Central (26-11) in the following contest at 1. The two teams met in the first round in 2019. The Hawks won that game, 3-1.

Laney Bledsoe has 165 strikeouts for the Tigers. Paintsville (13-16) received 11 doubles from Bledsoe and three home runs from Mattie Ratliff. Both players have 18 RBIs.

Lawrence County (28-6) encounters Shelby Valley (23-15) in the final opening-round game at 5. The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats in both meetings this season.

Bree Jones leads Lawrence County with a .520 batting average. Danielle Crum (39 RBIs) and Kensley Feltner (38 RBIs) have combined to knock in 77 runs.

Taylor Blevins boasts a 14-5 record and a 2.06 ERA in 22 appearances, 19 as a starter.

The semifinals are slated for Tuesday at 6 and 8 at Belfry High School. The championship game will commence on Wednesday at 7.

The 15th Region baseball tournament resumes today at Belfry after weather delayed the proceedings.

Paintsville (23-13) plays Lawrence County (27-7) in the first semifinal at 2. Johnson Central (14-21) continues its march to consecutive region titles when the Golden Eagles meet Prestonsburg (17-13) at 4:30.

The two winners play the championship game at 7.