Looking for their first district title in a decade, the Harlan County Black Bears took an important step toward that goal Monday with a 7-2 win over six-time defending champ Middlesboro, clinching the district’s top seed in the process.
“(Middlesboro) coach (John) Smith has a great program there and any time you can get a win over Middlesboro it’s big. They will give you everything they’ve got,” Harlan County coach Scotty Bailey said. “Our guys were focused and ready to play tonight. We had a long weekend in Tennessee and played good competition, but they came back Sunday ready to work.”
Tristan Cooper gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Conner Winterberger after coaches and fans argued he had strike three two pitches earlier. Cooper took over from there, however, limiting the Jackets to singles by Colt Bayless (in the fourth inning) and Kam Wilson (in the fifth inning) while striking out seven and walking four in a complete-game effort that improved his record to 6-1. The Bears improved to 12-9 overall and 5-0 in district action.
“Tristan had a great game, both on the mound and at the plate. We gave up two runs early, but they came right back. I don’t know if they could have done that last year,” Bailey said.
Winterberger pitched a complete game for the Jackets, who fell to 9-7 overall and 3-2 in district action. The senior left-hander scattered six hits while striking out eight and walking five.
Isaac Kelly, Cooper, Jonah Swanner, Will Cassim, Alex Creech and Samuel Henson each had one hit for the Bears.
“They are swinging the bats pretty well now, and we put down some bunts,” Bailey said. “We missed a couple of opportunities, but that will happen against good competition.”
Wilson led off the game with a walk and scored on WInterberger’s homer for a 2-0 lead.
The Bears came back with three runs with the help of two errors and two wild pitches. Kelly opened with a walk and Cooper was safe on an error. Creech’s two-out hit brought in one run and courtesy runner Aiden Craig and Creech scored on wild pitches.
The score stayed the same until the fifth as a highlight-reel defensive play helped keep the Bears on top. Chase Adkins was safe on an error to start the fourth inning, then Brady Carroll hit a line drive to center field. Swanner appeared to misplay the ball at first, but recovered in time and made a leaping catch before firing a bullet to Cassim at first base for a double play.
Cassim singled home a run in the sixth inning, then pinch runner Gunner Burkhart scored on the back end of a double steal after Creech had reached on an error, then took off for second.
Kelly singled and Cooper walked with two outs in the sixth, then both scored on Swanner’s single.
The teams close their two-game series Tuesday at Middlesboro.
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Middlesboro 200 000 0 — 2. 3. 5
Harlan County 300 022 x — 7. 6. 2
WInterberger and Colt Bayless; Cooper and Kelly. WP — Cooper (6-1). LP — Winterberger.
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Harlan County dropped three games over the weekend in Tennessee, beginning with a 6-3 loss Friday to Cherokee
Alex Creech led the Bears with three hits. Isaac Kelly and Tristan Cooper added three hits each. Will Cassim, Jonah Swanner, Brayden Blakley and Braydon Burton added one hit each. Cassim led in RBIs with three.
Tyler Lunsford gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings on the mound, with seven strikeouts and four walks. Aiden Craig allowed one run on two hits in one inning.
Harlan County’s comeback fell short on Saturday in an 8-6 loss to Union County, Tenn. Creech again led the Bears with three hits. Cassim added a double and single, while Craig singled twice. Cooper, Carter Howard and Samuel Henson had one single each.
Creech suffered the loss as he gave up four runs on five hits in two innings. Henson allowed four runs on four hits in two innings. Josh Duckworth pitched two shutout innings, giving up two hits.
Harlan County fell 10-4 to Northview Academy.
Creech had two hits for the Bears, while Kelly, Cassim, Howard, Karsten Dixon and Burton added one each.
Gunnar Johnson allowed three runs on three hits in two innings on the mound, with one strikeout and two walks. Gunner Burkhart gave up five runs on four hits in one inning. Kelly gave up two unearned runs on three hits in two innings, with four strikeouts and no walks.