The 14th Region All “A” champions, the Hazard Bulldogs.

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Last week, the Hazard Bulldogs participated in the 14th region All “A” tournament. The Bulldogs played four games in the series, and came away with the title without allowing the competition a single run.

In the first game, the Bulldogs took on the Buckhorn Wildcats. Hazard used a steady offense to pull off the 10-0 win in seven innings.

Hazard scored a pair of runs in the first inning, but were silent in the second frame. The Bulldogs’ big inning came in the third when they crossed the plate four times to take the 6-0 lead.

The Bulldogs scored a single run in the fourth inning (7-0) and a pair in the sixth, leaving them just a single run shy of ending the game. However, Hazard would end the game in the seventh as they collected the run. The Bulldogs would advance to the second round of the tournament with the 10-0 win.

Blake Lockhart collected the win on the mound for the Bulldogs, limiting the Wildcats to one hit in the game. Lockhart did not give up a walk, while striking out 13. Richard Stidham went the distance for the Wildcats, giving up 10 runs on nine hits, with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

Hazard stats: Austin Johnson 2 runs and 2 hits, J.T. Haynes 1 run, Griffin Wells 1 run, 2 hits and 4 RBI, Jordan Olinger 2 runs and 1 hit, Evan Whitaker 1 run, 1 hit and 3 RBI, Josh Meehan 1 run, 1 hit and 1 RBI and Nathan Stupart 1 run and 1 hit.

Buckhorn stats: Shannon Blank 1 hit.

In their second round game, the Bulldogs took on the Jenkins Cavaliers. Hazard would need but four at bats to conclude the match-up with the Cavaliers.

Hazard opened the game strong, putting four runs across the plate in the first inning. The Bulldogs came back in the second inning with two touches of the plate, both coming off a home run by Jordan Olinger (6-0).

The Bulldogs plated another pair of runs in the third inning bringing the tally to 8-0. Jordan Olinger got the final rally of the game started with his second home run of the game. Hazard would eventually score three runs in the frame, and closed out the game by holding the Cavaliers scoreless in the fifth inning.

The Bulldogs went on to win the game by the final count of 11-0. Blake Nidiffer got the win on the mound, shutting out the Cavaliers, giving up three hits, with no walks and five strike outs.

Hazard stats: Austin Johnson 2 runs, 1 hit and 1 RBI, Griffin Wells 1 run, Jordan Olinger 2 runs, 3 hits (2 HR) and 4 RBI, Evan Whitaker 2 runs and 1 hit, Josh Meehan 1 run and 1 hit, Jacob Roll 2 runs, 1 hit and 1 RBI, Cole Ratliff 1 run, 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Nathan Stupart 1 hit and 2 RBI.

Hazard took on Leslie County in the semifinals. The Bulldogs were unable to put up the big numbers as they had in the other games, but were able to come away with the 4-0 shut out win. No stats were available for this game.

In the Championship game, the Bulldogs took on the Knott Central Patriots. Hazard would close out the region tournament in the same manner as they had played the preceding games, with a shutout.

Austin Johnson got Hazard off to a good start as he opened the game with a solo home run. The Bulldogs would go on to score another run in the opening frame, giving them the 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs plated three runs in the second inning (5-0), but failed to find the plate in the third inning. Hazard exploded for four runs in the fourth inning, inching them closer to the early end (9-0). Jordan Olinger had a two-run home run in the inning. The Bulldogs rounded out the game in the fifth inning, getting two runs to set the final count at 11-0.

Kameron Conley got the win on the mound, going the distance giving up but two hits, with three walks and five strikeouts.

Hazard stats: Austin Johnson 3 runs, 3 hits (HR) and 1 RBI, Griffin Wells 1 run, 2 hits and 3 RBI, Jordan Olinger 2 runs, 2 hits (HR) and 2 RBI, Evan Whitaker 3 hits and 1 RBI, Nathan Stupart 2 runs and 1 hit, Cole Ratliff 3 runs, 1 hit and 1 RBI and Jacob Roll 1 hit and 3 RBI.