by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
  Skill, not superstition, saved Friday the 13th for Hurley.
  Hurley leftfielder Gary Blankenship threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate to end the game and give Hurley a dramatic, 11-10, Black Diamond District win over Council Friday afternoon at Willie Sullivan Field.
  The win came 24 hours after the Rebels suffered their first loss of the season, 8-0, Thursday at the hands of interstate rival Ieager, West Virginia.
  Winning pitcher Shane Shelton and shortstop Clint Justus each drove in three runs as Hurley (4-1, 1-0) built an early 10-4 lead Friday in the BDD opener for both clubs. The Rebels held on behind solid defense and the relief work of freshman Justin Vandyke.
  Hurley made most of the routine plays -- and one spectacular play at the end.
  Council had the potential tying runs on second and third in the bottom of the seventh when Cobra first baseman Ethan Ball dropped a two-out base hit down the left field line. The lead runner, Corey Barton, scored to make it 11-10, but Blankenship, who is also a freshman, made a perfect throw to retire Council freshman Matt Boyd for the final out.
  “I have devotions and I talk to my team about something before every game, and today’s talk was about responsibility,” Hurley coach Wayne Hall said.
  “It was about knowing and doing what is expected of you.
  “I was well-pleased with my defense. Gary Blankenship usually plays center for me and pitches, but he’s just a heck of an athlete. Sometimes he tries to do too much, but he made a great play (at the end).”
  Justus staked Hurley to a 3-0 lead with a bases-loaded double in the first inning. Shelton was 2-2 and Jordan Prater reached base three times and scored three runs for the Rebels.

  A pair of late-game rallies helped Haysi to two wins last week.
  The Tigers defeated Pound, 10-7, in non-district action Thursday at Flanagan Dam.
  In BDD play Friday at Twin Valley, a six-run fifth inning helped Haysi overcome a 2-1 deficit and the Tigers pulled away to a 15-5 victory over the Panthers.
  Lance Compton homered and drove in five runs, while Justin Kiser added three hits and scored two runs Friday for Haysi (5-5, 1-0 BDD).
  The Tigers scored 14 runs in their final three at-bats, including five runs in the seventh, when Compton hit a three-run homer.
  Jory Rife had two hits and three RBIs for the Panthers in their home opener. Josh Smith, Ethan Prater and Hunter Simpson each had two hits for Twin Valley (3-4, 0-1).
  Justin Stanley earned the win for Haysi, with relief help from Nathan Boyd. Jacob St. Clair took the loss for Twin Valley.
  Tyler Mullins had two hits and drove in three runs in Thursday’s win over Pound. Haysi blew a 5-3 lead and overcame a 6-5 deficit with two runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth.
  Compton went the distance to earn the win. Haysi travels to Coeburn for a non-district game today (Thursday).
  Twin Valley will host Council in BDD play Friday and visit Honaker on Tuesday.

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