LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — North Laurel’s opening two games in the girls’ 11-12 year old All Star tournament were as different as night and day.

Saturday, North Laurel opened play with a thrilling come from behind 6-5 win over Pulaski County. On Sunday, it was a totally different story, as North rolled over Harlan, 30-1, in four innings.

“It was a big difference,” coach Shane Brewer said. “Pulaski had a pitcher who threw well, while Harlan had two girls who threw the ball slow and we had a hard time adjusting to that early.”

But once they did adjust the game was never in doubt. North score eight in the first, 12 in the second and 10 in the third.

Alexis Gibson got things going for North in the top of the first with an inside the park home run to lead off the inning. In all, North hit seven inside the park homers against Harlan. Kelsey Patton, Madison Sechrest, Madison McDaniel (2), Hannah Carson and Beth Marcum were the others who hit home runs.

Harlan’s lone run came in the bottom of the first when Megan Witt was hit by a pitch from Emilee Albright and later scored on a passed ball. But by that time, Harlan was already down, 8-1.

Albright and Jazz Jervis kept the Harlan batters at bay, combining to throw a no-hitter. Albright struck out five and Jervis fanned all six batters that she faced.

“Jazz hasn’t allowed any hits or runs from last weekend to this weekend,” Brewer said. “And Emily held her own today and did what we needed. We have four or five girls we can throw on the mound and have confidence in.”

The win also kept North Laurel in the winner’s bracket. Brewer’s team will face McCreary County tonight at 8 p.m.

“That was the big thing in this win, keeping us in the winner’s bracket,” Brewer said. “Overall we hit the ball real well.”

North Laurel 6, Pulaski County 5

Going into the bottom of the third inning in Saturday’s opening game against Pulaski County, North Laurel found itself trailing, 5-1.

But from that point on, North outscored Pulaski, 5-0, to take a 6-5 win when Madison Sechrest scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth.

North took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Sechrest singled and scored on a single by Madison McDaniel. Pulaski came back to score two in the top of the second, then added three more in the third for a 5-1 lead.

With one out in the second, Eva Gover singled and Krista Johnson walked. Both runners came home when Krystin Wilson doubled off McDaniel to make it 2-1.

North had two runners on with only one out in the bottom of the inning but failed to push either across.

Emilee Albright took over on the mound in the top of the third and she was greeted rudely by Pulaski, as the visitors scored three runs for a 5-1 lead.

Haley Ellison led things off with a bunt single, then Makenzie Dick singled to center. A single by Morgan Singleton loaded the bases for Haley Baugh, who flew out to center and Ellison scored. An error by North allowed two more runs to come home. Pulaski could have scored more, leaving two runners stranded.

North started its comeback in the bottom of the third, scoring twice to cut the lead to 5-3.

Olivia Miller singled to lead things off and scored on a wild pitch. Makinlee Philpot singled and scored on a single from Hannah Carson.

Another North run came across in the bottom of the fourth when Alexis Gibson singled and scored on a double by Sechrest.

McDaniel took over on the mound in the top of the fifth and retired the side. North tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Philpot and Carson drew back-to-back walks, but Kelsey Patton hit into a 5-3 double play. Jervis then singled to right to score Carson to make it 5-5.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sechrest singled with one out and stole second. She moved to third on a ground out by Miller, then scored on a wild pitch to give North the 6-5 win.

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