Estill County hasn't had much luck against Montgomery County recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. Estill County will challenge Montgomery County at 7:30 p.m. Estill County's pitching crew has only allowed 3.3 runs per game this season, so Montgomery County's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Estill County took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They came out on top against Wolfe County by a score of 4-1.
Bryce Drake
Bryce Drake spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on five hits and racked up nine Ks. He also tossed no walks, which is notable because Estill County is 2-1 when he allows at most two walks, but 1-2 otherwise.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Hayden Woolery, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances. That stolen base was his first of the season. Mason Raider was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
While Montgomery County didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-21), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They were the clear victors by a 9-3 margin over Paris on Wednesday. The Indians might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four contests by six runs or more this season.
Jaimen Caba was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. What's more, he gave up only four hits, the fewest he's had since back in May of 2024. He was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of his four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Evan Copher was excellent, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Those three RBI gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Robby Howard, who scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
Montgomery County's record now sits at 5-1. As for Estill County, the win got them back to even at 3-3.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Estill County hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .323. However, it's not like Montgomery County struggles in that department as they've averaged .319. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Estill County's way against Montgomery County in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Estill County made off with a 9-3 victory. Will Estill County repeat their success, or does Montgomery County has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
