Triton Central hasn't had much luck against Eastern Hancock recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Tigers will face off against the Royals at 5:30 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Saturday, Triton Central was able to grind out a solid victory over Tri-West Hendricks, taking the game 7-2. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Tigers.
Brylie Couch made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. Couch was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, Jayda McKee was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Jalynn Keith, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
Triton Central kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Tri-West Hendricks only managed four hits.
Meanwhile, Eastern Hancock posted their closest win since May 22, 2024 on Saturday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Shelbyville 9-8. The win continues a trend for the Royals in their matchups with the Golden Bears: they've now won three in a row.
Chyan Evans was a standout: she scored two runs while going 3-for-4. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Nieko Engleking also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Triton Central now has a winning record of 2-1. As for Eastern Hancock, their record now sits at 2-4.
Eastern Hancock's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Triton Central has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Eastern Hancock, though, as they've been averaging 13.7 hits. Given Triton Central's sizable advantage in that area, the Royals will need to find a way to close that gap.
Triton Central suffered a grim 14-0 defeat to Eastern Hancock when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Tigers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
