The Ecorse Raiders will face off against the Thurston Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Ecorse is coming into the contest hot, having won their last nine games.
Ecorse's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Monday. They blew past Canton Preparatory 13-0. The result was nothing new for the Raiders, who have now won eight games by nine runs or more so far this season.
Darwin Udenata was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out nine over five innings pitched. Udenata was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
In other batting news, Ecorse let Korry Buxton and Julio Nunez run wild. Buxton went a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, four RBI, and one run, while Nunez went 2-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and one stolen base. That's the most RBI Buxton has posted since back in May of 2024. Phillip Tillie was another key player, earning two runs and three stolen bases.
Ecorse was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .391. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher in nine consecutive contests.
For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Thurston and Crestwood meet (six straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Monday. The Eagles put the hurt on the Chargers with a sharp 10-3 win. The Eagles' offense finally found a way to get into gear: the high-octane performance was a 180-degree turn from their last three games.
Kosta Haack made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 12 batters over 5.1 innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off one hit. He is becoming a predictor of Thurston's success: when he posts at least eight strikeouts the team is undefeated (and 1-7 when he doesn't). Haack was also stellar in the batter's box, firing off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-4. Those home runs were his first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Desmond Ferguson, who went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one double. He has become a key player for Thurston: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two stolen bases, but 1-7 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Leo Mello, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and one RBI.
Ecorse pushed their record up to 9-2 with the victory, which was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.8 runs over those games. As for Thurston, their victory ended a four-game drought on the road and puts them at 4-7.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Ecorse has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .556. However, it's not like Thurston struggles in that department as they've averaged .467. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Ecorse took their win against Thurston in their previous matchup back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 15-0 score. Do the Raiders have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Eagles turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
