Berea is 0-10 against Estill County since May of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Pirates will face off against the Engineers at 6:00 p.m. Berea is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8 runs per game this season.
Berea's pitching crew heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They blew past Somerset Christian 9-0. The Pirates might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five matches by nine runs or more this season.
Blake King made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over five innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Berea is undefeated when he allows at most two earned runs, but 5-6 otherwise. King was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
Nathan Prophitt
| 04/08/25 @ Williamsburg | 5 |
| 05/06/25 vs Somerset Christian | 3 |
| 04/22/25 vs Menifee County | 3 |
| 04/09/25 @ Menifee County | 3 |
| 03/18/25 vs Sayre | 3 |
| + 2 more games |
In other batting news, Nathan Prophitt was incredible, going 1-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one stolen base. Berea is 4-1 when Prophitt posts three or more RBI, but 4-5 otherwise. Hayden Horn was another key player, earning two runs and two stolen bases.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Estill County ultimately got the result they hoped for on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Montgomery County 7-6. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Engineers have posted since April 15th.
Like Berea, Estill County also got a great game from a two-way player: Bryce Drake. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Drake has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Those three hits gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Hayden Woolery, who went 2-for-5 with one triple and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Logan Friend, who went 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
The victory (which was Estill County's third in a row) raised their record to 12-8. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.7 runs over those games. As for Berea, their victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-6.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Berea has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .458. However, it's not like Estill County struggles in that department as they've averaged .434. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Berea came up short against Estill County when the teams last played on Friday, falling 4-0. Can the Pirates avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
