Destinee Jenkins and the Harlan County Lady Bears got the 2016 season off to an impressive start, winning 10-0 in five innings over visiting Whitley County.
Jenkins, a sophomore righthander who won 20 games last year, pitched a no-hitter with four strikeouts and only one walk as the Lady Bears coasted to the win.
“Destinees location was right on, and that’s a good sign this early in the season,” Harlan County coach Tim McElyea said. “Whitley could not dig in on her. She was pitching to contact but hitting her spots on the corners, and our defense played great behind her.”
Hannah Johnson led the HCHS offense with three hits in three at bats and two RBI. Kacie Russell had a double and two singles for two RBI. Jenkins, Lainey Cox, Tia King and Jessie Johnson each contributed two singles. Haley Blakley added one single and drove in three runs.
Harlan County was held scoreless through the first three innings, leaving the bases loaded in the third inning.
The Lady Bears broke through for three runs in the fourth inning. Russell and King led off the inning with singles, and Russell scored on Blakley’s sacrifice fly. Cox dragged a bunt single down the first-base line, allowing pinch runner Mikalyn Foutch to move to third, then scored on a throwing errors. Johnson followed with an RBI single to bring Cox home.
Harlan County ended the game with seven runs in the fifth inning. Jenkins led off with a single and courtesy runner T.C. Somersall moved to third on Russell’s hit and scored on a hit by King. Blakley followed with a two-run single, bringing in Russell and Foutch. Cox followed with a single up the middle. Jessie Johnson singled to load the bases, and Blakley scored on a Hannah Johnson single. A Jenkins single then drive in Jessie Johnson and Cox. Russell singled again to drive in Johnson to end the game via the 10-run mercy rule.
Rachael McKiddy pitched a complete game for Whitley, giving up 15 hits.
The Lady Bears return to action on Saturday at Corbin. They play Southwestern at 2 p.m. and Corbin at 4 p.m.

Whitley County 000 00 — 0 0 3
Harlan County 000 37 — 10 15 1
McKiddy and Johnson, Jenkins and King. WP – Jenkins (1-0). LP — McKiddy.