The Conner Cougars will face off against the Cooper Jaguars at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Cooper will be up against a hot Conner squad: the team just extended their winning streak to five. The Cougars blew past Beechwood 15-7 on Tuesday.
Bayli Bell spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned (and one unearned) runs on 14 hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
Kayla Ortiz
| 04/21/26 vs Beechwood | 2 |
| 04/20/26 vs Ryle | 3 |
| 04/16/26 vs Walton-Verona | 4 |
| 04/15/26 @ Boone County | 1 |
At the plate, Kayla Ortiz was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games she's played. Jocy Ortiz was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI.
Conner was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .419. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .344 or higher in five consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Cooper got themselves on the board against Scott on Tuesday, but Scott never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over the Eagles. While the Jaguars didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-23), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Lily Spraker looked comfortable as she didn't allow a single earned run over four innings pitched.
On the hitting side, Kinley (KJ) Johnson was excellent, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. Another player making a difference was Taylor Nevels, who earned one RBI, two runs, and two stolen bases.
Conner's victory bumped their record up to 14-3-2. As for Cooper, their win bumped their record up to 13-4-1.
Wednesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Conner has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .439. However, it's not like Cooper struggles in that department as they've averaged .481. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Conner skirted past Cooper 8-7 in their previous meeting last Monday. Do the Cougars have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Jaguars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
