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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. 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) returned to action early this week. The Enterprise will have more reports in next week’s edition.

Tigers beat Bears 

Clay County senior right-hander Brandin Crawford, headed to  the University of Louisville as one of the state’s top pitchers, struck out nine, walked two and allowed only one hit over five innings as the visiting Tigers raced to a 6-0 lead on the way to a 7-4 victory Thursday at Harlan County.

Crawford also had a big day at the plate, driving in three runs on two hits.

Will Cassim, Ales Creech, Tristan Cooper and Aiden Craig had one hit each for the 1-2 Bears. Cassim drove in two runs.

Josh Duckworth, a junior, gave up six runs (five earned) on five hits over two innings with one strikeout and one walk. Freshman Zayden Casolari was impressive in relief as he allowed one unearned run on three hits over five innings with two strikeouts and two walks.