WILLIAMSBURG — Any team with designs on making a run at this year’s 13th Region title had to know they must go through Clay County to get there. The Harlan County Lady Bears got their chance Tuesday in the semifinals of the regional tourney at Whitley County High School.

The Lady Bears stayed close for a couple of innings before Clay broke through on the way to a 10-0 five-inning win that put the 33-2 Lady Tigers within one win of a second straight championship.

“Against Clay and the team they have, you just can’t get behind them. Their pitching staff is so strong. When we got behind, they started hitting everything,” Harlan County coach Tim McElyea said. “It’s disheartening to get beat in five innings in the regional, but I expect Clay to win it again.”

Brianda Owens, one of six senior starters in the lineup, was dominant on the mound once again as she pitched a two-hit shutout with five strikes and no walks.

“Owens is a great pitcher and stayed on the outer half,” McElyea said. Haley Napier led the Lady Tigers at the plate with a double and two singles. Owens added two doubles and three RBI. Emma Hurd singled twice. Maddie Frazier had a double. Shelby Phillips, Allie Phillips, Tori North and Ellie Finley contributed one single each.

Senior center fielder Nikki Creech had both of the Lady Bears’ hits with leadoff singles in both the first and fourth innings, concluding one of the best careers in the 11-year history of the program. Creech, who will continue her career at the University of the Cumberlands, drew praise from McElyea, along with Emily Collett and Rhileigh Alred, for providing great senior leadership. The Lady Bears finished 20-7 and won their fourth straight 52nd District Tournament title.

“Nikki is going on to the next level. These seniors have been great this year as far as leading the team,” McElyea said. “We have the region at our place next year. We don’t lose very many and we’ll gain some, including, hopefully, Emily Long. We’ve had a great year. We weren’t even supposed to be here. I just hate the way it ended, but that is a great team.”

Kerrigan Creech suffered the loss as she gave up four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. Destiny Clark allowed six runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Creech worked out of trouble in the first inning after loading the bases on two walks and a hit batsman, then gave up a double to Napier to open the second before retiring the next three. Clay broke through in the third as Phillips beat out an infield hit and was followed by RBI doubles from Frazier and Owens. Napier followed with an RBI single and another run scored when the ball slipped past Alred in left field.

The Lady Tiger broke the game open with six runs in the fourth inning. Hurd and Phillips opened with singles and both scored on Owens’ two-run double. Phillips, Napier, Napier, North, Finley and Hurd had consecutive two-out singles for four more runs.

North Laurel edged Whitley County 2-0 in the other semifinal on Tuesday. Clay County defeated North Laurel 3-0 in the championship game on Wednesday and will play the Region 14 champ in sectional action on Saturday.

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Harlan County 000 00 — 0. 2. 1

Clay County 004 6x — 10 13. 0

K. Creech, Clark (3), K. Creech (5) and Adams; Owens and North. WP — Owens. LP — K. Creech (18-6).