Bell County scored the first five runs but then needed to score the last two to hold off Harlan County 8-6 on Tuesday to complete a two-game sweep of the Bears.
The Bobcats capitalized on the wildness of Harlan County starter Josh Duckworth to score five in their opening at bat with the help of five walks and one single. Freshman Zayden Casolari came in to restore order, giving up three unearned runs over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. Jesse Gilbert recorded the final out with one strikeout and one walk.
Sophomore catcher Joseph Brigmon carried the Bell offense with a double and two singles in three at bats. Brayden Carroll and Brody Hensley added one single each.
Cooper Brock, a sophomore, gave up six runs (four earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and three walks. Carroll, an eighth grader, earned the win as he allowed only one hit over 1 1/3 innings, with two walks and one strikeout.
Mason Himes and Isaac Kelly each had two hits to lead the Bears. Will Cassim added a double. Aiden Craig drove in three runs and scored two as he singled and walked twice. Tristan Cooper and Samuel Henson added one single each.
After picking up one run in the second inning on Craig’s bases-loaded walk, HC broke through with three in the fourth inning. Henson and Himes opened with singles, then both scored on Craig’s hit. Creech added an RBI single to make the score 5-4.
Carroll singled and scored on Brigmon’s double in the sixth to push the lead to 6-4, but the Bears answered and pulled even on Kelly’s two-run, two-out hit after HCHS loaded the bases as Craig walked, Gilbert was hit by a pitch and Cassim walked.
Brock walked to open the seventh inning, then moved to second on Blake Burnett’s bunt and tscored when Holden Clark was safe on an error. Clark scored when Creech made a wild throw to first on Carroll’s ground ball.
HCHS put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Carroll got Gilbert on a pop up in foul territory to third base.
Harlan County (11-10) plays host to South Laurel on Friday. Bell County (11-4) will be at home against McCreary Central on Friday.
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Bell County 500 001 2 — 8. 5. 2
Harlan County 010 302 0 — 6. 9. 3
Brock, Carroll (6); Duckworth, Casolari (1), Gilbert (7) and Kelly. WP — Carroll. LP — Casolari (0-2).
