Harnett Central took a pair of varsity wins at home on Monday, with the baseball team picking up its first win over Tri-County Six 3-A Conference opponent Lee County and the softball team followed up on its first win of the season on Friday with a win over non-conference Northwood.

In the baseball game, senior Jackson Yarbrough scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Harnett Central a 3-2 win over Lee County, giving the Trojans their first win of the year.

“Crooked numbers have been beating us,” said Harnett Central baseball coach Lance Honeycutt. “We’d have that one inning where the bases get chucked and the wheels fall off, so today was a good change. We’re going to face a good team in Southern Lee tomorrow, so I’m fully looking to win a ball game. Because we’re coming off of a win and we’ve just got to keep it going and keep the streak alive.”

Left-handed reliever Jackson Jones was the winning pitcher for the Trojans (1-7, 1-1 TCSC). The junior pitched one inning, striking out all three batters he faced. Junior right-hander Justin Perkins pitched six innings, yielding two earned runs on six hits and two walks, with three strikeouts.

“Justin Perkins went out there and shove,” Honeycutt said. “He gave up two home runs, but I’ll take the solo shots. They’re not going to beat you. It’s the multiple home runs and leaving guys on. That bases loaded situation he got out of was huge. Jackson Jones, a lefty who has been very integral on the JV, has become a junior now and struggled to find the zone early, but went out there and punched out three guys in a row. There were a couple of balls here and there, but the kid had some good stuff and dominated the mound. I’m very pleased with that.”

Yarbrough had two hits and Austin Swan, Lincoln Ihler and Ryder Carroll had one hit apiece for Central.

“Coach (Tyler) Greiner and I sat in my office during his planning for about 25 minutes deliberating which lineup we were going to go with,” Honeycutt said. “And we said ‘What have we got to lose? Let’s bring up some younger guys that are hitting the ball,’ and they contributed. The way this game’s played, hitting is contagious. When you bring up a couple of guys that stroke the ball like those three did, Sebastian Owens, Lincoln Ihler and Ryder Carroll, they gave our older guys some confidence that they very much needed.”

Carson Kelly and Heath Yow provided both runs for the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 1-1) with a home run apiece.

Lee took a 2-0 lead with a solo home run from Kelly in the first inning and one from Yow in the fourth. But Central tied it with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Yarbrough had a base hit to reach in the bottom of the seventh and advanced on a pair of wild pitches. Swan was walked and Johnny Grizzard was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. But the following batter, Sebastian Owens did not even have to swing his bat for the game-winner to come home, as Yarbrough scored on a wild pitch.

Harnett Central’s softball team picked up its first win of the season Friday at home against Lee County and followed it up with a 10-0 win in six innings over nonconference Northwood at home Monday.

“They came out strong, they played every single inning, they scored runs in almost every inning,” said Harnett Central softball coach Chelsey Cabe. “We had also been talking to them about not getting satisfied and slacking off. We’d always have that one inning where we’re letting up too many runs defensively and they didn’t have that tonight. So that’s good to see.”

Senior starter Fallon Wimberly was the winning pitcher for the Trojans (2-4), yielding no runs on one hit and no walks, with five strikeouts, in five innings of work. Senior Ansley Lee pitched one inning, giving up no runs on one hit and no walks, with one strikeout.

“Our pitchers did great,” said Harnett Central softball assistant Olivia Scarborough, who works with the pitchers. “We’re learning each other and what clicks a lot better now. They’re hitting their spots and I couldn’t be happier with them.”

Lee had three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs to lead Central at the plate.

Shelbie Gill had two hits, one RBI and one run scored. Lyndsey Brewer had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored. Mikaela Goss had two hits and two runs scored. Amaya Bell had one hit, one RBI and one run scored. Kylee Frailey and Kolby Medlin each had one hit and one RBI. Emily White had one hit and one RBI. Laurie Blackwell and Lauryn Waddell scored one run apiece.

“We tried to do a few little things on the offensive side, just to kind of spread that out a little bit,” said Harnett Central softball assistant Ashlee Crewe. “And they were really feeding off of each other and the order in the line-up that they’re in right now.”

Lauren Davis and Allison Coker had one hit apiece for the Chargers (6-4).

Central scored one run in the first inning and three apiece in the second, third and sixth innings. The game ended on the 10-run rule in the bottom of the sixth when Medlin drove in Lee with a base hit.

“(Winning two straight) gives them confidence along with the skills that they have,” Cabe said. “And that’s almost as important as the skills.”

“The other night (against Lee Friday) they finally put the pieces together,” Crewe added. “They seemed to keep them together and hopefully they can continue to stay that course and keep progressing.”

Harnett Central is at home again on Tuesday against conference foe Southern Lee.