Softball Game Preview: Harlan Green Dragons vs. Middlesboro Yellowjackets

Harlan is 2-8 against Middlesboro since March of 2017 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. Harlan will host Middlesboro at 5:30 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Harlan has three straight wins, Middlesboro has six straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.

Harlan's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over Bell County. The Green Dragons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three contests by nine runs or more this season.

The result came thanks to Jordyn Smith's shutout, as she gave up just two hits and racked up eight Ks. Furthermore, she didn't allow a single earned run, the first time she has blanked an opponent since back in April of 2024.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Ella Farley, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. She also hit a triple, marking her first of the season. Ella Lisenbee was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.

Meanwhile, Middlesboro didn't have quite enough to beat Pineville on Monday and fell 5-4.

Middlesboro's defeat dropped their record down to 0-2. As for Harlan, they now have a winning record of 3-2.

Harlan suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to Middlesboro when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Will Harlan have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.