The Russell Broncos will face off against the Chapman Irish at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
The home team had won the previous six meetings between Russell and Ellsworth, and Russell kept the tradition alive. The Broncos blew past the Bearcats 13-4 on Tuesday. The contest marked the Broncos' most dominant win of the season so far.
Jaxon Ross made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Russell is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 1-2 otherwise. Ross was also big at the plate, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
Sam Thielen
| 04/08/25 vs Ellsworth | 2 |
| 03/28/25 @ Cimarron | 1 |
| 03/28/25 @ Cimarron | 1 |
In other batting news, Sam Thielen was incredible, firing off two home runs, four runs, and four RBI while going 4-for-4. He has become a key player for Russell: the team is 2-1 when he posts at least one home run, but 1-2 otherwise. Max Evans was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Russell kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Chapman scored first but ultimately less than Marysville in their match on Tuesday. They took a 16-11 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Bulldogs.
Jed Moody made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. The team also got some help courtesy of Connor Cote-Boss, who scored a run while going 1-for-5.
The victory got Russell back to even at 3-3. As for Chapman, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 3-3 record this season.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Russell has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .471. However, it's not like Chapman struggles in that department as they've averaged .550. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
