The Monticello Billies are taking a road trip to face off against the Warren Lumberjacks at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Monticello is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
Monticello is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They were the clear victors by a 19-4 margin over Dumas on Monday. The victory continues a trend for the Billies in their matchups with the Bobcats: they've now won seven in a row.
Jude Parke looked comfortable as he struck out six batters over two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Danner Loyd, who scored two runs and stole four bases while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. With that strong performance, he is now averaging an impressive 1.2 stolen bases per game. The team also got some help courtesy of Jonah White, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Monticello always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .711. The last time their OBP was this high was was before the start of last season.
Meanwhile, Warren entered their tilt with Crossett on Friday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 4-3 W against the Eagles.
Kolby Pope was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over seven innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in eight consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-5.
In other batting news, Ryan Spears was excellent, going 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Hayden Cathey, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-4.
Warren's win was their ninth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-3. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Monticello, their record now sits at 8-9.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Monticello has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .443. However, it's not like Warren struggles in that department as they've averaged .446. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Monticello skirted past Warren 8-7 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Billies since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
