The Russellville High School varsity baseball team is off to a winning start early in the 2025 campaign, taking three wins out of its first four games.
The Golden Tigers split in their season-opening doubleheader against Class 6A Hazel Green before knocking off 7A Austin on the road and then beating 7A Florence at home.
“I think we’ve played two really good baseball games that have been our brand that we preach and two that have been not so much,” Russellville head coach Jess Smith said. “We anticipated some growing pains with this group. No matter how hard you practice or how many times you intersquad, when you get a bunch of guys that have never really been in this moment or environment, playing against a team with a different jersey color, it’s different.
“Overall, though, I’m really, really proud. You know, 3-1…sometimes a record can be telling or it isn’t really indicative of who you are, but I think for us and our approach to these four games we’ve been 50/50 on how we want to play,” Smith added.
Smith was impressed with his team’s performances in its first game against Hazel Green, a 4-1 victory, and the following day’s game on the road at Austin, which the Golden Tigers won 8-4.
In game one against the Trojans on February 14, Russellville put up three runs in the third inning and then another in the fifth to give RHS a 4-0 lead late in the ball game. On the mound, Brayden Entrekin pitched a gem of a shutout through five innings, striking out five and allowing just three hits.
“Brayden Entrekin against Hazel Green went 60 pitches through five innings. That’s electric from a starter against a quality 6A lineup,” Smith said. “We surrendered one run and then you look at the scoreboard of Hazel Green’s next two games after playing us they put up 30 runs, so really good start there by Entrekin.”
Against the Black Bears on February 15, the Golden Tigers again jumped out to a sizable lead, knocking in five runs in the third and another three runs in the fourth to go up 8-0. Designated hitter Ty Engelthaler, senior Ty Willis, and Entrekin all had multiple hits while right fielder Brennon Thorpe led the team with two RBI in the game.
Willis also started the game on the mound and tossed three hitless innings before being relieved by freshman Caleb Hawkins, who finished out the contest and allowed Austin’s four runs.
“Some of the guys that we were talking about preseason that we’re banking on having big seasons for us have done so so far. They’ve led the way,” Smith said. “Ty Willis and Brayden Entrekin offensively have been outstanding—and on the mound and defensively.”
On Monday the Golden Tigers improved to .750 with a 4-2 win over the visiting Florence Falcons.
Russellville scored single runs in the first, second, fourth, and fifth innings with RBIs from Willis, shortstop Tripp Cleveland, and first baseman Coltan Oliver. The right fielder Thorpe also had a day at the plate with two hits and two runs scored in three at-bats.
On the mound, Engelthaler put in a solid outing allowing two earned runs in four and two-thirds innings before senior Gunner Sappington came in to close the game out.
Sappington, who also came on to finish the first game against Hazel Green, recorded three strikeouts and allowed just two hits in two innings against Florence.
“Both of his appearances you have Gunner Sappington come out of the bullpen and closing the door,” Smith said. “He’s been a guy that we’ve wanted to get going in that role the last three years, so for the first week to get him in two opportunities to get a save opportunity and he’s executed, that’s been big. He’s been really big for us and going to be big for us going forward.”
Through the first four games of the year, the third-year Russellville head coach has been pleased with the Golden Tigers’ performance in the batter's box, making opposing pitchers and defenses work—and he’s betting on their only improvement as the season goes along.
“The quality of at-bats…I know we’re upwards of 65 percent, and that’s your goal,” Smith said. “Executing the little things: bunts, hit-and-runs to get runs across, playing team baseball offensively. I think we’re starting to figure out that might be more of our identity.
“Some guys are having big days but getting this team sold out to have quality at-bats for the overall well-being of the team is the focus, not so much on the result or what the stat book looks like,” he added. “Just by trying to get these guys to buy into that I think this offense could be one of the better offenses we’ve had with that mentality.
“I’m excited about the future, but by no means are we a finished product. By no means do we have the right to get content and comfortable whatsoever. The challenge lies ahead and it’ll be up to us as the coaching staff to have these guys locked in and ready to go. I think you’ll be judging our performances going forward more on us (the coaches) more so than the players, but I’m excited about what’s to come for this group.”
The Golden Tigers are scheduled to host Athens on Thursday, February 20 before Madison Academy comes to Russellville on Saturday.
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