A Harlan County High School baseball team that won only six times in 24 games a year ago can point to several reasons for their struggles.
One problem, however, stood out above the rest.
After posting winning seasons the previous two years with veteran squads, the Bears struggled mightily on offense in 2025. The Bears were held to one run or less in 11 games and were shutout victims eight times. Only one returning regular (catcher DaShaun Smith) hit above .300 and the two leading hitters (Aiden Craig and Alex Creech) on the team were the only two seniors the team.
Improving their hitting has been the top priority for the Bears in the preseason in their quest to turn around last year’s decline.
“We’ve really focused on hitting and things like bunting and moving runners over,” Harlan County coach Scotty Bailey said. “I think they understand the importance of making contact and moving runners over. That’s the main focal point. If we can hit the ball, we can be dangerous. I think that can get us over the hump.”
Smith was the Bears’ most consistent hitter a year ago and returns behind the plate for his senior season after posting a .322 average 19 hits and 15 RBI. Gavvin Lloyd, a junior, will also see action at catcher.
“DaShaun played real well for us last year. He really figured it out. When he’s making contact, I feel it’s almost always a hit,” Bailey said. “Gavvin can help us. He worked hard in the summer to get better.”
Jesse Gilbert, a junior, is back at shortstop after seeing quite a bit of action the previous two years in the outfield. Gilbert hit .293 last spring with 17 hits.
“He’s battling a little soreness now, but he’s a competitor and has been starting since he was a freshman,” Bailey said. “Gibby has a very strong arm, and I’m excited to see him at short this year.”
Gunner Burkhart, a senior, will see action at both first base and third base. Sophomore Carson Clark will also play first base.
“Gunner had some clutch moments at the plate, and he’s bigger and stronger,” Bailey said. “Gunner is a powerful kid. We’ve worked on his swing a lot, and I expect him to have a good year. Carson was a rotational guy last year, but he’s grown a lot. He’s getting a little more powerful. Zayden hit about .400 in the summer and really got better at the plate. He has a strong enough arm to play over there and was pretty accurate with his throws.”
Brennan Blevins, a senior, and Kayden Adams, a junior, will share time at second base as two of the most athletic players on the squad. Adams, who can also play shortstop, added seven hits. Blevins hit .265 with nine hits. He will play in the outfield when not playing second.
“Kayden moves from the outfield, but he’s an athlete who had a really good summer,” Bailey said. “Brennan is one of the most athletic kids on the team. He can run and jump and is fast. He just has to play with confidence.”
Chance Sturgill, a senior who started at third base last season, has been slowed by an injury this year. Zayden Casolari, a junior who was a part-time starter last season, is expected to get the majority of starts at third when he isn’t pitching.
Brayden Morris, a sophomore who hit .232 last season with seven stolen bases, provides stellar defense in center field.
“I thought Brayden had a good freshman year. He’s one of the best outfielders as a freshman I’ve seen. He made some mind-boggling plays,” Bailey said. “If he can make contact, he will be very good offensively. I feel good when he gets on the bases.”
Blevins, Colby Shepherd and Aiden Lewis are the leading candidates in left field. Shepherd led the team with eight steals in eight attempts last season.
“Colby is very athletic and can help us. He’s a competitor and can do whatever he wants if he sets his mind to it,” Bailey said. “Aiden is playing well and has an opportunity to help us this year.”
Colston Boggs, a senior who hit .333 last year in limited action, appears to be the early favorite in right field with Shepherd and Blevins also in the mix.
“He’s a kid who is here every day working,” Bailey said. “He’s got a good bat but needs more confidence. He could also play some at designated hitter.”
The Bears’ struggles on offense took a toll on the HC pitching staff. Gilbert and Casolari, both juniors, return in the top two spots in the rotation and both deserved a better fate last year as Gilbert was 2-3 and Casolari was 3-5. Casolari had an earned run average of 3.00 with 31 strikeouts and 48 hits allowed in 44 1/3 innings. Gilbert had a 3.18 earned run average with 32 strikeouts and 43 hits allowed in 39 2/3 innings.
“They are 1A and 1B in our rotation. It doesn’t matter where you put them,” Bailey said. “They will both be hard to handle on the mound. They both have a lot of experience on the mound as juniors.”
Clark, the nephew of former Cumberland star Matt Clark, is next in line after posting a 5.42 earned run average a year ago.
“Carson looked really good the other day in the scrimmage,” Bailey said. “His arm has gotten stronger, and he’s locating pitches better.”
Byron Shepherd, a freshman with no varsity experience, could also play a key role in the rotation.
“Byron came in as freshman and has been throwing really well,” Bailey said. “He throws pretty hard for a freshman and can help us tremendously if he’s in the right mindset.”
Though only a seventh grader, Logan Mills is also expected to see action on the mound after an impressive middle school season last spring.
“Logan is playing up as a seventh grader and is a very smart player; He’s played a lot of middle school baseball and travel baseball and other sports,” Bailey said. “I think he can rotate in and give us some innings.”
Lewis will also see action on the mound, along with sophomore lefty Hayston Hensley and freshmen Andrew Vance and Jackson Mackowiak.
Bailey says the Bears’ pitching is good enough to make them a district contender again if the offense improves. Middlesboro and Harlan County dominated the 52nd District after HCHS opened, playing each other in 11 of the first 15 championship games, but Harlan and Bell County moved to the top two years ago and are the favorites again this season.
“The district is very solid and competitive,” Bailey said. “We lost two really good seniors last year, but we have some young leaders stepping up. The team camaraderie is good, and we’re putting in a lot of hours and hard work. We’re 10 steps ahead of where we’ve been in the past. They see the hard work is paying off.”