Kenton Ridge has gone a perfect 5-0 against Piqua recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. The Cougars will host the Indians at 12:00 p.m. Kenton Ridge is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.
On Saturday, Kenton Ridge made easy work of Bethel and carried off a 9-1 win. The Cougars have beaten the Bees the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Bees has come to flipping the script.
Nic Stumpf
| 05/10/25 @ Bethel | 2 |
| 04/16/25 @ Bellefontaine | 3 |
Jakob Groeschel and Nic Stumpf were major factors no matter where they played. On the mound, Groeschel tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Stumpf tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. What's more, he posted two strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April. At the plate, Groeschel went 1-for-5 with one run, one double, and one RBI, while Stumpf went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Stumpf is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played.
In other pitching news, Mason Amato looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Kenton Ridge let Jake Beard and Zach Deel run wild. Beard got on base in four of his five plate appearances with three runs, two doubles, and one stolen base, while Deel went 4-for-5 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double. That's the most runs Beard has posted since back in April. Brennan Shaffer was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Kenton Ridge was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bethel only posted a batting average of .208.
Meanwhile, Piqua was not able to break out of their rough patch on Monday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They lost 14-7 to Shawnee.
Hunter Steinke and Lukah Branam stepped up to the plate in a big way. Steinke got on base in three of his four plate appearances with three runs and one stolen base, while Branam went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Steinke is becoming a predictor of Piqua's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 2-1 (and 8-10 when he doesn't). Another player making a difference was Cohen Brown, who earned one run and two stolen bases.
Kenton Ridge's victory bumped their record up to 16-3. As for Piqua, they now have a losing record of 10-11.
Kenton Ridge came out on top in a nail-biter against Piqua when the teams last played back in April of 2024, sneaking past 6-4. Will the Cougars repeat their success, or do the Indians have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
