MONTICELLO – Jacob Fleming threw a no-hitter and North Pike defeated Lawrence County 4-1 in Region 7-4A high school baseball action Tuesday night. Fleming struck out 6 and allowed just 1 base on balls in a dominant route-going performance.

With the win, Coach George Lott’s Jaguars improved to 6-1 overall, and 1-0 in Region 7-4A play. Lawrence County, under ninth-year coach Cory Keyes, fell to 1-4 overall, and 0-1 in the region.

Fleming’s no-hitter overshadowed a dandy performance by Lawrence County hurler Hunter Stephens. Stephens also went the distance, allowing 6 hits and striking out 5. None of the 4 runs Stephens surrendered were earned.

“Hunter probably had the best game he’s ever pitched for us,” Keyes said. “Unfortunately, Fleming and the North Pike defense were even better. It was a well-pitched high school baseball game, and a good win for Coach Lott and his team.”

A Reed Taylor infield hit and 2 Lawrence County errors added up to a pair of North Pike runs in the top of the first. Stephens settled in and threw a gem, at one point retiring 14 of 15, but the damage was already done. Those 2 runs proved to be all Fleming would need.

The score remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth, when another LCHS error aided another 2-run Jaguar rally. Taylor had a double, and Brady Badon added a single in that frame. L.D. Coney, Dallas Smith, and Levi Wishart also had hits for North Pike.

Lawrence County’s only run came in the bottom of the seventh, and it was also unearned, resulting from North Pike’s only error. Otherwise, the Jaguar defense was flawless, fielding everything the Cougars put in play.

“Fleming really shoved it to us the first time through,” said long-time LCHS assistant Craig Davis, “but we had some good at-bats-some good contact-after that. As good a game as their pitcher threw, their defense was just as outstanding tonight.”

Jr. Varsity Results

In junior varsity action, Lawrence County scored 4 in the bottom of the fifth to snare a 5-5 tie.

Lawrence County and North Pike will conclude their home-and-home series on Friday, at North Pike. Junior varsity play begins at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 7 p.m.