The Ripley Tigers will take on the Kossuth Aggies at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
15 must be Ripley's lucky number: they beat Byhalia with that score not once but twice on Tuesday. The Tigers didn't even let the Indians on the board, marking the Tigers' second-straight 15-0 shutout. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Tigers.
Hayden Kuhl made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). Kuhl was even better at the plate, firing off three home runs and five RBI while going 3-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Paxton Kennamore, who went 1-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Skylar Barkley, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Ripley was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .524. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .304 or higher in six consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Kossuth got the win against Mantachie on Thursday by a conclusive 16-5. The Aggies haven't had any issues with the Mustangs recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Like Ripley, Kossuth also got a great game from a two-way player: Ayden Wilbanks. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over six innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits. Wilbanks has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his five plate appearances with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
In other pitching news, Baylor Kelly looked comfortable as he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Kossuth got a massive performance out of Ethan Killough, who got on base in all five of his plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and one stolen base. Those three runs gave Killough a new career-high. Noah Caldwell was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.
Ripley's victory bumped their record up to 16-4. As for Kossuth, their win bumped their record up to 14-3.
Ripley suffered a grim 9-1 defeat to Kossuth in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can the Tigers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
