New Harlan built a lead, watched it slip away, took it back and then held on for an 8-7 win over Cumberland in the district middle school softball tournament on Thursday at Harlan County High School.

Mistakes, both on defense and on the bases, cost the Cumberland Lady Skins. Cumberland had nine errors in the game and lost on a base-running gamble in the final inning that proved to be the difference in the game.

Haylee Mabes and Braylee Engle each had two singles to lead the New Harlan offense. Riley Maggard contributed a two-run inside-the-park homer. Hailey Austin added a double. Abbi Fields and Icidre Martinez had one single each.

Maggard pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Katelyn Rogers led the Lady Skins with three singles in four at bats from the leadoff spot. Alexis Sergent added a double and single. Halle Raleigh, Kayle Duckworth and Harley Keith had one single each.

Lola Maggard pitched a complete game with three strikeouts and one walk.

Riley Estes and Maggard opened the New Harlan offense by reaching on errors in the first inning. Austin doubled in one run and Mabes singled home another for a 2-0 lead.

Tri-City broke through against Maggard for four runs in the third inning. Keith and Rogers had infield hits and both scored on an errant throw from third base. Duckworth singled home two runs for a 4-2 lead.

Rogers and Sergent had RBI singles in the top of the fourth as Cumberland extended its lead to 6-2.

Fields and Engle had hits in the bottom of the inning as New Harlan cut the deficit to 6-4.

Estes was safe on an error to open the fifth and came around to score when Maggard hit a line drive down the line in right for an inside-the-park homer. Austin was safe on a three-base error on a fly ball hit to center, then scored on Fields’ ground out to second base. Martinez was safe on an infield hit for another run and an 8-6 lead.

Jayanna Sellers was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the sixth. She stole second and tried to score on Rogers’ single but was cut down at the plate. Sergent followed with an RBI double that would have tied the game if not for the play at home earlier in the inning. Raleigh grounded out to second to end the game.

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Cumberland 004 201 — 7. 8. 9

New Harlan 200 24x — 8. 8 1

L. Maggard and Raleigh; R. Maggard and Evans. WP — R. Maggard. LP — L. Maggard.

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Cumberland defeated Harlan 19-7 and New Harlan coasted past Middlesboro 13-3 in action from the middle school district softball tournament on Monday at Harlan County High School.

Kayle Duckworth led the Cumberland offense with a double and three singles. Brittleigh Estep contributed four singles. Lola Maggard, Halle Raleigh and Kera Collins each added three singles. Katelyn Rogers had a double and single. Harley Keith singled twice. Alexis Sergent and Jade Burton added one single each.

Maggard pitched a complete game with five strikeouts and six walks to earn the win.

Thomas led Harlan with a triple, double and single. Jackson doubled twice. Nunez, McNiel and Roman contributed one single each.

Thomas pitched 4 1/3 innings and McNiel recorded the final two outs.

Abbi Fields led New Harlan with two singles. Rylie Maggard, Rhileigh Estes and Ashton Evans had one single each.

Maggard pitched a one-hitter with three strikeouts and five walks to earn the win.

Helton singled for the only Middlesboro hit. Adkins and Harris shared mound duty.

New Harlan will play Cumberland on Thursday at 4:30 in the championship game. Both teams advance to regional competition.