PIKEVILLE - The Prestonsburg baseball team pulled away to win easily in its season-opener. Visiting Prestonsburg rolled in a season-opener on Tuesday, defeating 15th Region rival Pikeville 16-5 in five innings via the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) 10-Run Mercy Rule.

Prestonsburg, which has captured back-to-back 15th Region All “A” Classic championships under the direction of head coach Shane Simpkins, plated 16 runs in an offensive-heavy fifth inning.

Adam Griffith started on the mound for the Blackcats. Travis Powers took over on the hill for Griffith in the bottom portion of the fourth inning.

Host Pikeville scored two runs in the opening inning and added another in the third to move ahead 3-0.

Griffith and Hunter Brown each had a single for Prestonsburg in the 16-run fifth inning. Powers collected a double for Prestonsburg in the fifth inning as the Blackcats erupted offensively.

Bryson Williams delivered two singles and a double for the Blackcats. Grant Anderson and Trey Stapleton each had one single for the Prestonsburg baseball squad.

Prestonsburg was playing region foe Lawrence County on Thursday night in the Hits for Home Invitational at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington. The Prestonsburg-Lawrence County baseball game ended too late to make this edition.