Donovan Montanaro and Noah Lewis each drove in four runs and Evan Browning scored four as the Harlan offense exploded in a 16-1 rout of visiting Pineville on Thursday in a Senior Night win.
“It was Senior Night, and it’s always good to get a win on Senior Night,” Harlan coach Lee Freyer said. “I’ve had these four seniors since they were freshman. Evan, Noah, John Mark (Bryson), and Andrew (Roark) are all great young men. I’m proud of the hard work and time they’ve dedicated to this program.
Browning, Montanaro, Lewis, Aiden Johnson and Jared Moore had two hits each for the 12-14 Green Dragons. John Mark Bryson and Baylor Varner had one hit each.
“I thought we hit the ball well tonight. Some of our guys are starting to see it better,” Freyer said. “We played clean tonight defensively. When you do that, you always give yourself a good chance to win.”
Browning gave up one run on four hits while striking out nine and walking three to earn the win on the mound.
“Evan Browning struck out nine and walked three. When you throw more strikes than balls, that’s a good recipe for success,” Freyer said. “It just boils down to the fundamentals. Taking every rep, every pitch, every fielding chance, and every at bat seriously. If you come mentally prepared to make plays, you will make them.”
Harlan travels to Jackson City on Friday and plays host to Lynn Camp on Saturday.
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Pineville 100 0 — 1. 3. 2
Harlan 462 4 — 16. 12. 0
Baker, Caldwell (2) and Caldwell, Vaughn (2); Browning and Lewis. WP — Browning (2-3). LP — Baker.

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Coming off a 3-1 win two nights earlier at South Laurel, the Harlan County Black Bears were unable to build on that momentum Thursday in a 13-0 five-inning loss at home to Whitley County.
The Bears were limited to six hits, led by Nate Shepherd with a double and single. Brayden Blakley had a double. Will Cassim, Isaac Kelly and Samuel Henson added one single each.
Shawn Carroll took the loss as he gave up three runs on two hits while recording one out. Colby Johnson allowed six runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Karsten Dixon gave up four unearned runs in one inning.
Caden Petrey pitched four shutout innings for the Colonels with five strikeouts and no walks.
Bryan Anderson had three singles and Sam Harp added two doubles to lead the defending 13th Region champs.
Harlan County (8-16) will play host to Perry Central on Monday, then travel to Lynn Camp on Tuesday and Barbourville on Thursday to close the regular season.
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Whitley County 303 16 — 13. 9. 0
Harlan County 000 00 — 0. 6. 4
Petrey and Bennett; Carroll, Johnson (1), Dixon (5) and Kelly. WP — Petrey. LP — Carroll (0-3).