LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Coming off a loss to your cross-town rival is never easy, especially when that loss came via the Mercy Rule.

After South Laurel fell to North Laurel, 13-3, on Friday, the Cards were scheduled to play Somerset on Saturday, but that game was canceled due to wet field conditions. South coach Wynn Harris said he went into Saturday with two thoughts: We want to get out there and erase Friday night; and sometimes it’s not bad to let these things stew and sink in.

Due to the field conditions, the Cards were forced to stew on their loss to the Jaguars until Monday night, when they played host to Jackson County.

“Things work out the way they are supposed to,” Harris said as his team rolled to a 10-1 win over the Generals.

Even though his team won, Harris felt like he didn’t do a very good job of coaching. He even apologized to his team afterwards.

“I don’t feel like I’ve ever won a game for us,” Harris said. “The team wins the game. Tonight I felt like I compromised my team in certain situations.” He was referring to a couple of situations where he sent runners and they ended up being tagged out.

Stephen Simpson got the win for the Cardinals, as he gave up one run on six hits. He struck out seven and walked just one.until the bottom of the second when the Cards scored five times off pitcher Chance Westerfield.

Simpson led the inning off with a single to right. Matthew Slavey came in as a courtesy runner. After Chase McWhorter flew out, Drew Irvin smacked a double to right that scored Slavey for the 1-0 lead.

A single by Austin Moore put two runners on for Zach Allen, who singled to center scoring Irvin and Trey Martin (running for Moore). After Trent Abner and Joe Gaines both walked, Alex Sears popped out to first for the second out of the inning, bringing Daniel Neal to the plate. Neal delivered with a two-run single to right for the 5-0 lead.

Jackson County (4-15) got its lone run in the top of the fourth when, with two outs, Aaron Duncan singled in Austin Whitehead.

The Cards (19-7) added two runs in the bottom of the inning for a 7-1 lead.

Allen led things off with a hot shot past first where the right-fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Allen to reach second. In an almost identical play, Abner sent a missile past first to score Allen. Abner advanced to second on the throw home. Joe Gaines followed with a double to left to bring home Abner.

Three more runs were scored in the fifth before lightning forced the game to be halted. Then the rains came, and the game was called with the Cardinals taking the 10-1 win.

Irvin, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, led off the inning with a single and stole second. Moore then doubled him home for an 8-1 lead. Allen walked, and Abner singled, but Martin, running for Moore, was thrown out at home. Allen scored on an error on a pick-off attempt, and Abner scored when Gaines singled to right.

“We are now in the dog days of our schedule,” Harris said. “We don’t want a lull in our mentality. We’ve gotta get the fire back in our belly and the love and passion back for the game.”

The Cards were scheduled to host Barbourville Tuesday night.

sports@sentinel-echo.com