Senior right-hander Tristan Cooper bounced back from a rare off night in a season-opening loss at South Laurel by throwing six strong innings Saturday at Whitley County in a 16-8 win over Southwestern.
Cooper struck out 12 and walked four while giving up six hits and four unearned runs over six innings, including a nine-pitch third inning when he struck out all three batters he faced. Jesse Gilbert allowed four runs on four hits as he pitched the final inning.
Alex Creech, Aiden Craig, Gilbert and Isaac Kelly each had three hits as part of the Bears’ 19-hit attack. Jonah Swanner and DaShaun Smith added two hits each. Cooper, Samuel Henson and Gunner Burkhart had one hit each.
Harlan County fell 16-1 to defending state champ Whitley County in the Bears’ second game of the day.
Gilbert had the only hit for the Bears.
Carson Clark, an eighth grader, made his first varsity start and gave up eight runs (three earned) on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts. Jonah Swanner and Gunner Burkhart each recorded one out as Whitley scored eight runs to run via the 15-run mercy rule in three innings.
Harlan County (2-3) will play host to Knox Central on Monday.
———
Harlan County 003 700 6 — 16. 19. 1
Southwestern 000 040 4 — 8. 10. 4
Cooper, Gilbert (7) and Kelly; Shipp and Morgan; WP — Cooper (1-1). LP — Shipp.
———

Harlan County 010 — 1. 2. 4
Whitley County 358 — 16. 13 0
Clark, Swanner (3), Burkhart (3) and Smith; Allen and Bargo. WP — Allen. LP — Clark (0-1).