The Russellville Indians played host last Thursday night to the St. Elizabeth Hornets, ranked No. 1 in Class 1 and figuring to be one of the best teams on Russellville's schedule this season.
The Hornets were a younger team than the Indians, who had gotten off to a slow start by spliting their first six games of the year. Brock Lucas, a University of Missouri commit, started on the mound for the Hornets and no-hit the Indians through three innings.
Russellville junior Charlie Miller was facing Lucas, a fellow reigning all-state player, in what turned out to be a tight pitcher's duel. Miller allowed two runs on four hits with one error in 6⅔ innings. Lucas pitched a complete game shutout for the Hornets, allowing four hits with eight strikeouts on 79 total pitches.
"We knew going in that you've got two high-level pitchers on the mound. You knew that it was going to be a one- or two- run game either way," Russellville coach Lucas Branson said. "From an offensive standpoint, they put runners on base just about every inning. That makes the pitch count get a little higher and it make pitches a little more stressful. Credit to them."
Lucas gave St. Elizabeth a 1-0 lead in the top of the second off Miller with an RBI single to right.
Miller ran into more trouble in the fourth when the Hornets had runners on second and third with one out. Miller ended the threat with consecutive strikeouts to keep it a one-run game.
It was still 1-0 in the sixth when Lucas stepped up to the plate with a runner on second. Lucas, who was already 2-for-2 in the game, made it 3-for-3 on a base hit to center field to drive in the runner and give the Hornets a little more comfortable 2-0 lead.
Now backed into an even deeper corner, Russellville came out in the sixth and seventh inning swinging at pitches in an effort to break through Lucas' pitching display. But it was to no avail. Lucas retired the side in both innings and the Hornets held on to defeat the Indians 2-0.
Although both teams had four hits in the game, Branson said his team had the disadvantage because of their approach between pitches and at-bats. The Indians felt mentally drained throughout the game the more and more they failed to get hits off of Lucas. Which caused some of the Indians to swing at multiple pitches during their at-bats. Thus in turn, making Lucas more comfortable on the mound.
"We talk to our guys over and over about when they get in the batters box about being able to make adjustments from pitch to pitch and then at-bat to at bat," Branson said. "We preach to them an aggressive approach at the plate. One of my biggest pet peeves is strikeouts looking. I don't like strikeouts. But I'd rather us be aggressive and go down while giving ourselves a chance."
Branson added he can't be upset with a 15-3 record at the halfway point of the season. He wants his team play as tough of a schedule as possible during the season to mentally and physically prepare themselves for the postseason when it gets here. All three of Russellville losses so far (Putnam County, Fatima, St. Elizabeth) have been to teams that are favored to win their respective districts. Branson thinks that his team is where they want to be right now and all that is left for the Indians to fix are the little things to help them strings together hits.
"I think that we're in a very, very good spot," Branson said. "You know we've obviously been able to play every night we've had a game, plus a couple of nights where we've added some games late, so our guys are healthy. They're probably more mentally tired than they are physically tired. It's going to be nice for them to refresh themselves, focus, and be ready to go in the second half."
The Indians will look to get back to their winning ways Thursday against another state-ranked team in Southern Boone.
Down 1-0 in the fourth inning with runners on second and third base, the Indians hold a meeting on the mound.
Senior Charlie Miller breaks the Hornets' no-hitter with a line drive double to left-center field.