Golden Lions

LANCASTER - Even with a couple of days to go, it has already been a big week for Lincoln County baseball. The Patriots shuffled their lineup, swept the two games their coach said they had to win and matched their longest winning streak of the season, all in the span of three days and in the wake of their worst loss of the season. Their latest achievement was a 4-1 victory over Garrard County on Thursday that kept them in the running for the top seed in their district tournament. “We had to have these,” Lincoln coach Brad McNew said.

The Lincoln County soccer Patriots celebrated their home-opening game with a goal festival, as they crushed Garrard County 11-3 Monday. Lincoln (2-0) didn't control the ball the entire 80 minutes of regulation, but the soccer Patriots dominated in shots on goal, outshooting Garrard (0-2) 32-14. “It was a great win for the boys,” said first-year Lincoln coach Chaz Garcia. “At the beginning we started off pretty rough, then we started to possess the ball better. We needed to fill our gaps.

Eighth-grade pitcher Jessica Speake struck out 10 batters to lead Garrard County to an 8-2 victory over Mercer County Tuesday at Lancaster. Speake allowed only earned run on five hits and one walk, while her sister, Jamie, drove in three runs to spark the Garrard offense. The Lady Lions had nine hits, including two each by Jamie Speake and Courtney Rhodus. Jamie Speake doubled home two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Garrard (2-0) scored four to break a scoreless tie. Her hit followed singles by Jess Wilburn, Hagan Goldey, Rhodus and Stacy Drew.

Lincoln County found a way to quiet the roar of the Garrard County Lions at Lancaster Friday. Garrard trailed by only four points when Lincoln turned up the defensive pressure. The Patriots held the Lions to 4-for-19 shooting and forced 11 turnovers in the second half as Lincoln pulled away for a 62-36 win. Noah Keeton, who led Lincoln (10-3, 3-0 45th District) with a game-high 21 points, scored 13 of his points in the second half as the Patriots put the game away. Lincoln put away the Lions in the second half, but Garrard (11-7, 3-1 district)

Grant Blevins shot a 36 Wednesday to lead Boyle County to a quad match win over Garrard County, Marion County and Anderson County. Boyle finished with a 155, followed Marion and Anderson at 160 and the Golden Lions at 170. Dakota Jarman and Tommy Hastings each shots 39s for the Rebels, and Drew Moore shot a 38 to lead Garrard. At Rosewood G.C., Lebanon BOYLE COUNTY (155) ?  Grant Blevins 36, Dakota Jarman 39, Tommy Hastings 39, Corey Gardner 41. GARRARD COUNTY (170)

Nick Sullivan and Jerry Perry will be inducted into the Garrard County Football Hall of Fame Friday when the Golden Lions host Paris. Sullivan, a 1997 graduate, was a four-year starter for the Golden Lions. He rushed for more than 2,400 yards and had more than 2,000 yards passing. He ran for 40 touchdowns and threw for 23 while running Garrard's option offense for Perry. Sullivan signed with Eastern Kentucky as a quarterback but was turned into a defensive player for the Colonels.

Will Demarcus, Garrard County, football Scored a touchdown on a fake field goal, and kicked three extra points in the Golden Lions' 21-14 district win over Wayne County on Friday. Korey Coleman, Lincoln County, golf Shot an 84 to earn an at-large berth to the state golf tournament at the 9th Region Tournament on Monday .

Grant Blevins shot an even-par 36 Tuesday, to lead the Boyle County boys to a 151-162 win over Garrard County at Old Bridge. Boyle had three other players shoot in the 30s, with Dakota Jarman and Corey Gardner each carding 38. Coty Cantrell shot 37 and Drew Moore 38 for the Golden Lions. BOYS At Old Bridge G.C. BOYLE COUNTY (151) ?  Grant Blevins 36, Corey Gardner 38, Dakota Jarman 38, Tommy Hastings 39, Spencer Taylor 42. GARRARD COUNTY (162)

Tyler Woods fired a match-low 38 Tuesday to lead Garrard County to win over East Jessamine, West Jessamine and Casey County at Dix River Country Club. Coty Cantrell shot 39 for the Golden Lions, who finished with a 159. West Jessamine was next with 162, followed by East Jessamine (168) and Casey County (187). Luke Beard led Casey with a 42. At Dix River C.C. GARRARD (159) - Tyler Woods 38, Coty Cantrell 39, Evan Preston 40, Jesse Cantrell 42, Drew Moore 44. W. JESSAMINE (162)

CAMPBELLSVILLE - Corey Horn scored twice for Garrard County as the Golden Lions defeated host Taylor County 4-0 Monday. Horn scored on two breakaways, one in each half, for Garrard (13-0). Garrard led Taylor (6-7) 3-0 at the half after goals by Colby Grider, Jacob Denny and Horn. Horn scored the Lions' lone second-half goal. Garrard coach Jon Martin said goalkeeper Corey Lawwill had his "all-around best game of the year" in preserving the shutout. Martin also credited the play of his defenders - Zach Doan, Malcolm Smith, Kyle Ayres and Will Stevens - and midfielder Brandon Merriman.

BURGIN - It's been quite the turnaround year for the Garrard County softball team. A year ago, the Golden Lions were in the midst of a two-win season with a team full of freshmen and eighth-graders. But after their 18-0 win Tuesday over Burgin, the Lions are one of the hottest teams in the 12th Region, having won five straight nine of their last 10 to sit at 23-12. “They've just got a lot more confidence and they're grown up as ball players. They're doing a million times better than I thought they would, and we're just becoming a better team,” said Garrard's only senior, outfielder Sydney Pozzuto, who drove in two runs Tuesday.

Garrard County scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday to break a tie and beat visiting Berea 8-3. Evan Smith had a pair of doubles for the Golden Lions (15-13), while Ronnie Saylor, J.T. Lyon, Seth Murphy, Jacob Wix and Matt Wilburn all drove in runs. Chris McSorley started and picked up the win, while Sammie Galloway earned the save. Danville 7, Corbin 6 (10 innings) - At Corbin, the Admirals (22-12) got a run in the top of the 10th inning and held on to edge host Corbin.

J.T. Lyon hit a three-run home run to highlight a five-run seventh inning Thursday as Garrard County rallied to defeat Lincoln County 5-2 in Stanford in the final 45th District game of the season. Lyon's homer gave host Garrard the lead and helped the Golden Lions avenge an earlier loss to Lincoln and secure a tie for second place in the final district standings, which determine seeding for the 45th District Tournament later this month. Garrard (14-12, 3-3 district) and Danville finished in a tie for second place behind Boyle County.

Four Mercer County pitchers combined for a six-inning no-hitter Wednesday as the Titans defeated Burgin 10-0 at Harrodsburg. Jackson Stoeckinger, Jon Banks, John Ingram and Russell Sims teamed to hold Burgin hitless, striking out eight batters and walking three. Stoeckinger pitched the first two innings, Sims pitched the last two, and Banks and Ingram threw one inning each for host Mercer (17-5, 3-2 46th District). Logan Horn had two hits, including the Titans' only extra-base hit, a double.

Sammy Galloway threw a two-hitter Monday as Garrard County defeated Southwestern 3-2 at Somerset. Galloway helped Garrard (9-8) go back over .500 for the first time since losing three straight games last week and avenge an earlier loss to Southwestern (13-3), which had beaten the Golden Lions 11-6 on March 29. “He had great command on the mound. He was throwing all his pitches, keeping it low in the strike zone,” Garrard coach C.J. Lynn said. The Lions had only five hits, including a double by Ronnie Saylor that was their only extra-base hit, but Lynn said they struck the ball well.

Boyle County scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday to defeat Garrard County 6-5 at Danville. The host Rebels rallied after trailing 3-0 after 2 1/2 innings and 5-2 going into their last at-bat, and they scored the tying and winning runs with two outs. “I'm very proud of this team and having a no quit attitude. This is twice we have come back to win a ball game in the last seven days, and that shows the character of our young men,” Boyle coach Kyle Wynn said.

LANCASTER - Sometimes the numbers just don't make sense. You wouldn't think, for instance, that one would be greater than 10, but that might well have been the case Tuesday night at Garrard County. The 10 runs Garrard generated were overshadowed by one play that cost the Golden Lions dearly in a 16-0 loss to Rockcastle County at Garrard Middle School. The error extended what became a seven-run second inning, part of a stretch in which Rockcastle scored 15 runs in three innings.

LANCASTER - At the beginning of the season, Garrard County coach Mark Scenters said the Golden Lions were going to hang their hats on defense. That has been the case this season, and the Lions' defense will get another good test Friday in their Class AAA playoff opener at Russell. “Our defense has been a cornerstone for us all year long, and they are just now starting to play their very best football of the season. We are seeing guys mature and start to understand their roles more completely, and it is making them better players and us a better team,” Scenters said.

LANCASTER¿ - After going through what Boyle County girls soccer coach Brian Deem called the “meat grinder” of the team's invitational tournament last week, Deem decided to make some changes to get ready for the postseason. And he liked what he saw with his some of his new looks Tuesday in a 10-0 win at Garrard County. “I was really concerned because we changed some things up yesterday in the rain, and I was concerned how our focus was going to be. They did a lot of learning today.