Western Hills pitcher Will Rawlings kept the East Jessamine hitters at bay, and his teammates did just enough at the plate to give the Wolverines a 2-1 win Monday in high school baseball action at WHHS.

"It wasn't our best outing," WHHS coach Craig Fry said, "but it was a win. Will pitched outstanding. That was one of our best-pitched games all year. Our defense was great, but we couldn't get any hits strung together."

Western Hills (15-7) scored the game's first run in the first inning with singles by Jordan Queen and J.T. Riddle, a sacrifice bunt by Matt Hyatt and a grounder to short by Cam Lee that scored Queen.

The Wolverines threatened in the second inning as East Jessamine (9-15) committed three errors, but WHHS had two runners thrown out at second and didn't score.

In the third Western Hills threatened again, loading the bases on singles by Riddle, Hyatt and Hunter Fry with one out, but a strikeout and line-shot to first caught for the third out left the runners stranded.

While the Wolverines were having trouble getting runners across home plate, the Jaguars were having trouble getting runners on base.

Rawlings had a perfect game through the first two innings. EJHS' Jeremy Martin led off the third by reaching on an error, but he was thrown out at first by WHHS catcher Andy Fisher when he rounded first and got too far from the bag.

Rawlings struck out the next two batters to keep the number of batters he'd faced through three innings to the minimum of nine, and he set East Jessamine down in order in the fourth. Tyler Burton's fly ball to centerfield in that inning was the first ball the Jaguars hit out of the infield.

"I felt good," Rawlings said. "My off-speed pitch was working, but one didn't work too well. I had a perfect game and then we got that error. That kind of hurt a little bit, but not too bad. A win was on my mind the most."

The Jaguars broke into the scoring column in the fifth inning with one run off singles by Travis Steward, Martin and Dylan Poulin, an error and a fielder's choice.

That tied the game briefly at 1-1. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hyatt hit a one-out double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to give WHHS a 2-1 lead.

Rawlings pitched a complete game. EJHS had two runners on with one out in the sixth inning, but two balls hit to WHHS second baseman Matt Freire were handled for outs.

With two outs in the seventh Martin drew a walk but Kagen Webb, running for Martin, was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game.

"We got the big hits when we needed them," Rawlings said. "We got people on, and we came out with a "W.' We played as a team."

Rawlings gave up four hits " singles to Jake Adams, Steward, Martin and Poulin. He also struck out three batters, and 15 batters were out on grounders, pop-ups or line shots caught by the infield.

"Will pitched lights out," coach Fry said. "He did everything he could, and the one run he gave up was unearned."

"If you asked me if I wanted to have a perfect game or a no-hitter, I'd rather have a win as a team," Rawlings said. "That's the kind of pitcher I am. Teamwork wins ballgames; it's not one person's effort."

Hyatt led the WHHS hitters with a double and single, Riddle singled twice, and Queen, Fry and Nolan McGaughey each had a base hit.

The Wolverines' next game is at home Thursday against Owen County.

>The Wolverines defeated Scott County 11-6 Monday in Georgetown.

Queen almost hit for the cycle with a triple, double and single, and Riddle hit a triple and two singles. Hyatt homered and singled, and Lee hit a double and single. Fry doubled, and Freire and Marcus Howard each had a base hit.

Riddle pitched for WHHS.