GOODY, Ky. — Belfry High School junior pitcher Brandon Chapman had a strong showing during Thursday’s 60th District championship game as he helped the Pirates defeat Pike County Central 12-0 by throwing a shutout with five strikeouts, three hits and two walks.

Chapman had plenty of help from his teammates and the game was called after the end of the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.

BHS had defeated PCC twice during the regular season and now advances to the region as champions.

During the bottom of the first, Belfry’s lead-off batter Timmy Lovern hit to left field to advance to first base; soon after stealing second. Tyler Williams followed and doubled, scoring Lovern.

Matt Blackburn sacrificed and forwarding Williams to third. Jeremy Maynard, no. 21, earned an RBI when he smacked the ball to shallow right field scoring Williams. The inning ended with the Pirates up 2-0.

The Hawks went down quickly with three up and three down during the top of the second. However, BHS would add one more to their lead when Williams knocked in no.3 Jeremy Workman after knocking the baseball to center field for a double increasing the score 3-0.

During the top of the third, PCC no. 28 Tyler Wright reached first but was thrown out by Chapman because he was too far away from the base to get back in time before the throw. PCC left one man on base when Aaron McGuire hit to BHS shortstop Charles who threw to first, giving McGuire the final out of the inning.

The Bucs would have a monstrous fourth inning, scoring nine runs. Josh Francis started it all with a hit to shallow left, advancing to first. Francis then stole second. PCC pitcher McGuire then walked Lovern and next Williams to load the bases with no outs.

Blackburn sacrificed to center field bringing home Francis during his time at bat. At that time, there was some confusion in the game when Lovern stole third. The umpires said he didn’t tag second before the ball was caught after hit by Blackburn and PCC tagged him out.

Meanwhile, Williams moved on to second base.

The score was 8-0 with two outs on the Pirates when PCC head coach Russell Clark changed pitchers to no. 8 Jordan Taylor.

With a runner on second, Workman smacked the pitch from Taylor down the left field foul line in fair territory, batting in Howie Dotson. Workman was on third when Taylor walked Francis.

Lovern stepped to the plate with runners on first and third and two outs when he was hit by the pitcher, loading the bases for BHS.

Williams walked, scoring Workman raising the score 10-0 for the Pirates.

Once again, bases were loaded as Blackburn took his turn at bat. The senior hit to shallow center field bringing in two more runners, Francis and Lovern. The score was now 12-0 in the Pirates favor before PCC was able to get the third out.

The Hawks had the top of the fifth for any hope of escaping the mercy rule. However, the first batter flew out to left field and the second struck out swinging. Only Austin Charles reached base when Chapman walked him. It wouldn’t matter as the next batter, Wright

grounded to shortstop who tagged Charles out at second for the third and final out.

The Pirates’ record increases to 20-16 while the Hawks are now 10-17.

Selected to the 60th District All-Tournament team were; Mac Page from Phelps; representing PCC were Tyler Wright and Aaron McGuire; and for the Bucs were Timmy Lovern, Matt Blackburn and Jeremy Maynard.

Belfry and Central travel to Lawrence County, Ky. Monday for the 15th Regional Tournament. Game times and opponents will be announced at a later date.