Hazard/Perry County added another Area 4 title to its collection Saturday with an 8-2 win over Harlan at Huff Park, pulling away with a four-run fifth inning to break open what had been a close game.

Harlan had its chances, pounding out eight hits, but didn’t capitalize on opportunities and left nine runners on base.

Devin Gayheart earned the win on the mound as he worked out of trouble a couple of times while striking out five and walking two in 5 1/3 innings. Gage Logan recorded the final two outs, retiring both batters he faced.

Nine Hazard All-Stars reached the hit column, led by Clint Davidson and Caleb Combs with one double each. Dillon Elkins, Logan, Kison Hillman, Austin Hughes, Mason Sumner, Matthew Richie and Gayheart had one single each.

Luke Kelly led the Harlan All-Stars with three singles in three at bats. Baylor Varner added two singles. Nate Montanaro, Bryce Mabes and Eli Freyer had one single each.

Two walks led to two Hazard runs in the opening inning as Hillman singled in one run and another scored on an errant throw. Combs doubled in the second inning and scored the game’s third run on Elkins’ single to center.

Harlan put together four hits in the third inning on singles by Montanaro, Kelly, Varner and Mabes but scored only once. Varner singled home Montanaro, but Kelly was caught in a rundown between third and home.

Sumner and Richie had hits in the fourth before Elkins’ RBI ground out pushed the lead to 4-1.

Davidson opened the fifth inning with a double and Logan followed with a single. One run scored on a wild pitch and another came home on Hughes’ ground out. Two errors on a ball hit by Akemon plated two more runs.

Freyer walked and Owens was hit by a pitch to open the Harlan sixth. Logan worked out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Montanaro to hit an RBI ground out to first and then retiring Jake Brewer on a grounder to second.

Hazard advances to the winners bracket of the District 4 Tournament. Harlan will play Tri-City on Sunday for second place and the other berth in district competition.

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Harlan 001 001 — 2. 8. 4

Hazard 210 14x — 8. 9. 2

Owens, Varner (6) and Luttrell; Gayheart, Logan (6) and Logan, Davidson (6). WP —Gayheart (1-0). LP — Owens (0-1).

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Harlan earned a trip to the championship game with an 18-11 win over Leslie County in the opening round on Friday.

Baylor Varner and Brody Owens led the Harlan All-Stars with a double and single each. Jake Brewer and Luke Kelly each singled twice. Jayce Brown had a double. Nate Montanaro, Landon Myers and Bryce Mabes added one single each.

Brewer, Kelly, Varner, Eli Freyer, Owens, Hunter Napier and Brennan Blevins all saw action on the mound.

Tyler Baker led Leslie County with a double and two singles. Dalton Hensley singled three times. Caden Caldwell and Rylan Simpson added two singles each. J.J. Johnson had one single.