While there is no exact method for measuring team chemistry, Harlan County coach John Lewis likes what he has seen so far from the Bears, even if their 1-5 record isn’t where he had hoped to be through the first two weeks of the season.

“We’ve been a very scrappy bunch so far. I really believe they will feed off that and gain confidence as the season goes along,” said Lewis, who enters his 11th season as coach of the HCHS baseball program.

“This group cares about each other and they want to pick each other up. We had that when I played. When you have that, it can lead to a really good team by May. I really believe they will get runners on by May. They want to play hard for each other.”

The Bears won’t lack experience with a nine-man senior class leading the way as they try to break a streak of three-straight losing seasons after posting winning seasons for five straight years when the program was a perennial regional contender.

The major issue for the Bears in their early losses this year was poor defense, especially in the infield.

“Defense is big for us,” Lewis said. “When you have some inexperience on the infield and you don’t make the plays, it puts a lot of pressure on the pitchers. They have to be able to handle that mentally. I think they will get better as the weather warms up.”

While they may lack the dominant pitcher of previous years, like Jared Sizemore, Connor Leisge or Tyler Boggs, the HCHS pitching staff should be improved. The rotation is led by senior left-hander Benjamin Lewis and junior right-hander J Harris. Quinton Boggs, a junior, and Jordan Steele, a sophomore left-hander, will also see extensive action on the mound.

“I feel good about those guys,” Lewis said. “I think we can get five innings out of several of them by the time the weather warms up. If we can push that pitching staff to be disciplined and keep getting stronger, they will be really good next year and down the line.”

Lewis was impressive in his season debut against Barbourville with seven strikeouts in three innings.

“We really believe he’s figured it out,” said the HCHS coach. “He’s starting to see he doesn’t have to throw his fastball as hard as he can every time. I really believe the sky is the limit for him this year.:

Harris was one of the Bears’ top pitchers last season and has continued to improve, according to his coach

“I really feel confident with J on the mound,” Lewis said. “He locates well.”

Lewis has been impressed with the work of Brayden Blakley and Tristan Cooper, both eighth-graders, and says they can both help the varsity this season. Blakley has already recorded his first varsity victory and has been impressive in both of his outings thus far.

“I’m really tickled with our two eighth-graders,” Lewis said. “They have both proved they can throw strikes.”

While defense cost the Bears in their season-opening loss to Barbourville, Lewis has two solid infielders to build around with senior Antonio Roman at second base and Harris at shortstop.

“Antonio is very athletic and has a good arm. He covers a ton of ground. He is also a good contact hitter who can run and give us some speed at the top of the lineup,” Lewis said. “J is one of our veterans out there. We need a little more offense from him. He does a nice job on defense and has a good arm.”

Tyler Casolari, a junior, is back for his third season as the Bears’ catcher, one of only three regulars HCHS has had in its 11-year history, following Boggs and Brendan Rutherford.

“I think this will be his breakout year at the plate. He will be in the middle of the lineup somewhere,” said Lewis, a former catcher himself on the powerhouse Cumberland teams in the 1980s. “He’s a hard-nosed kid who continues to improve.”

Eli Estep, a senior, will take over at first base

“Eli gives us a solid defender at first, and he swings the bat pretty well,” Lewis said. “He didn’t play his first couple of years of high school, but he’s worked his way to the starting lineup.

Steele, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound sophomore who stars in football, gives the Bears a power bat at first base or designated hitter.

“He has to learn a little discipline at the plate after sitting out last year. He hasn’t seen live pitching since middle school,” Lewis said. “He’s still in pull mode. If he can start hitting to the opposite field, he will help us. He has showed in practice he can do it.”

Jonathan Wilder and Zac Collett could both see action at third base, with Wilder also playing second. Nathan Shepherd, a freshman, could also help at third.

“Third base is up in the air, and the boys know that,” Lewis said. “Antonio could even play some at third.”

Lewis will again anchor the Harlan County outfield in center. In addition to his pitching skills, Lewis is one of the region’s top outfielders.

“He’s like a deer out there. He covers a lot of ground and has a good arm out there,” Lewis said. “He had a real good throw the other night and had the guy at the plate if we hadn’t dropped it. Ben is smart enough to hit the ball where he wants. We just need a little more consistency from him this year.”

Garry Henson, a senior who started at linebacker all four years of high school, is back with the baseball team after two years away. Henson had an impressive debut against Barbourville, showing off some power with a double to deep center and speed with an infield hit to shortstop.

“I wish he had played the last couple of years. We tried to get him back out. He’s gotten a lot stronger in football,” Lewis said. “He was a big surprise for us in the opener. He hit the ball real well.”

Justin Brown, a junior, will start in left and give the Bears some speed near the top of the lineup.

“His speed in the outfield is impressive, and I look for his bat to really improve,” Lewis said. “We really need some of those juniors to step up this year. They have to hit the ball.”

Matthew Simpson and Michael Simpson, both seniors, provide solid defense in the outfield off the bench.

“They do a good job out there on defense,” Lewis said. “They give us another good outfielder out there when Ben is pitching.”

^^^

HCHS roster

Sr. Eli Estep

Sr. Santos Flores

Sr. Garry Henson

Sr. Benjamin Lewis

Sr. Antonio Roman

Sr. Michael Simpson

Sr. Matthew Simpson

Sr. Xzavier Simpson

Sr. Jonathan Wilder

Jr. Quinton Boggs

Jr. Justin Brown

Jr. C.J. Carruba

Jr. Tyler Casolari

Jr. Jay Harris

So. Logan Blanton

So. Jacob Brown

So. Zac Collett

So. Riley Sheeks

So. Kenny Skidmore

So. Jordan Steele

So. Josh Swanner

Fr. Karsten Dixon

Fr. Nathan Shepherd

8th Brayden Blakley

8th Braydon Burton

8th Tristan Cooper

HCHS schedule

March 18 Barbourville L, 6-5. (Harris 0-1)

March 22 at Elizabethton, Tenn. L, 16-7 (Harris 0-2)

March 23 at Harriman, Tenn. W, 9-8 (Blakley 1-0), Sv – Lewis (1)

March 23 at Arab, Ala. L, 9-6 (Lewis 0-1)

March 27 Knox Central L, 12-0 (Lewis 0-2)

March 29 North Laurel L, 10-2 (Harris 0-3)

April 2 Harlan (JV)

April 4 at Barbourville

April 6 at Lee, Va. (JV)

April 8 Perry Central

April 11 at Middlesboro

April 12 Middlesboro

April 13 Knox Central

April 13 Letcher Central (JV)

April 15 Letcher Central

April 16 at Harlan (JV)

April 18 at Bell County

April 19 Bell County

April 23 Letcher Central

April 25 Harlan

April 26 at Harlan

April 29 at Knox Central

April 30 Knott Central

May 4 at Letcher Central

May 4 vs Clay County

May 6 at Hazard

May 10 at North Laurel

May 11 at Knott Central

May 13 Hazard

May 14 at Perry Central

May 16 at Harlan (JV)

May 17 at Whitley County