For the first time this season, Brooke will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will host the John Marshall Monarchs at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Brooke is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.6 runs per game this season.
Brooke fell victim to Wheeling Central Catholic and their airtight pitching crew on Monday. They came up short against the Maroon Knights, falling 7-0. The Bruins just can't catch a break and have now endured three losses in a row.
Meanwhile, John Marshall won against Union Local on Thursday with three runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Friday. The Monarchs beat North Marion by the very same score they won with in their prior game: 3-1. The victory continues a trend for the Monarchs in their matchups with the Huskies: they've now won three in a row.
Hunter Coulter spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on eight hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Kayden Knapp was incredible, firing off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-3. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in runs (two). Another player making a difference was Cain Martin, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
They weren't the only ones working in the home run department: John Marshall lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
John Marshall's win bumped their record up to 11-13. As for Brooke, their defeat dropped their record down to 15-12.
Brooke's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's game. The Bruins have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for John Marshall, though, as they've been averaging only 1.4 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Brooke continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Brooke's way against John Marshall when the teams last played back in March, as Brooke made off with a 13-5 victory. Do the Bruins have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Monarchs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
