Fleming County is 0-4 against Russell since April of 2016 but things could change on Saturday. The Panthers will be playing in front of their home fans against the Red Devils at 2:00 p.m. Fleming County is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
Having struggled with four losses in a row, Fleming County turned things around against Mason County on Wednesday. They came out on top against the Royals by a score of 5-2.
Preston Cropper
| 04/09/25 vs Mason County | 3 |
| 04/03/25 @ Fort Walton Beach | 2 |
| 05/13/24 vs Menifee County | 2 |
| 04/02/25 @ Crestview | 1 |
| 04/02/25 vs Daviess County | 1 |
Preston Cropper was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Austin Robertson, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one double.
Fleming County was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .379. They are 2-1 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
While Russell didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-22-1), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They blew past Morgan County 12-2 on Friday. The Red Devils might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight matches by nine runs or more this season.
Jayden Frasure was a major factor no matter where he played. He tossed four innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits. Frasure was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kyle Mokas, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Jacob Toliver, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4.
The win made it two in a row for Russell and bumps their season record up to 10-3. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.5 runs over those games. As for Fleming County, the win got them back to even at 6-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Fleming County has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Russell struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Fleming County suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to Russell when the teams last played back in April of 2017. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
