Baseball Recap: Harlan County Takes a Loss

Harlan County had lost five straight on the road, but on Thursday they dropped their record down to 5-14-1 to make it six. They came up short against the Whitley County Colonels, falling 15-0. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Black Bears of the 16-1 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in March of 2024.

Harlan County saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Dashaun Smith, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base. Chance Sturgill also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.

As for Whitley County, they are on a roll lately: they've won 11 of their last 12 matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 23-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.5 runs over those games.

On Whitley County's side, Kip Allen was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most hits Allen has posted over his last nine games. EJ Allen was another key player, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Harlan County will face off against Shelby Valley at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The Black Bears are facing the Wildcats at the right time seeing as the Wildcats are stuck on a seven-game losing streak. As for Whitley County, they will square off against Madison Central at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The Indians' pitching crew has only allowed 3.8 runs per game this season, so the Colonels' hitters will have their work cut out for them.