Russell is a perfect 5-0 against Morgan County since March of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Red Devils will look to defend their home field against the Cougars at 6:00 p.m. The two teams are strolling into their contests after big wins in their previous games.
Russell is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They were the clear victors by a 17-2 margin over West Carter on Tuesday. The win continues a trend for the Red Devils in their matchups with the Comets: they've now won seven in a row.
Kyle Mokas made a big impact no matter where he played. He tossed four innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances. He was even better at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. Russell is undefeated when Mokas posts two or more runs, but 2-3 otherwise.
Elijah Hankins
| 04/08/25 vs West Carter | 5 |
| 03/28/25 @ Morgan County | 3 |
| 03/22/25 @ East Carter | 3 |
| 05/09/24 vs Blazer | 2 |
| 04/04/24 vs St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Elijah Hankins, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI, two runs, and one triple. Those five RBI gave him a new career-high. Lokelio Ancheta was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
Russell was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .571. They are a perfect 8-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, Morgan County got themselves on the board against Betsy Layne on Thursday, but Betsy Layne never followed suit. They put the hurt on the Bobcats with a sharp 6-0 victory. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Cougars as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Parker Trusty made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). Trusty was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Jayden Willis and Alex Lee did most of the damage at the plate: Willis scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances, while Lee scored a run while going 1-for-2. Lee also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
Russell's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-3. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Morgan County, they now have a winning record of 6-5.
Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Russell has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .464. However, it's not like Morgan County struggles in that department as they've averaged .470. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Russell took their victory against Morgan County in their previous matchup two weeks ago by a conclusive 12-2 score. Do the Red Devils have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cougars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
