ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — It may have been a long wait, but patience certainly paid off for the Tri-State Coal Cats (2-1), who secured their first series win of the season Saturday after splitting a doubleheader against the Elizabethton River Riders (1-2) at Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark. Elizabethton took Game 1 by a score of 9-5 before Tri-State bounced back with a 5-0 win in Game 2.
The delay stemmed from Friday night’s contest being suspended due to lightning after just two innings. The game resumed Saturday evening, forcing a doubleheader to close out the series.
Game 1
The opener, a continuation of Friday’s suspended contest, resumed with Elizabethton holding a 4-0 lead heading into the top of the third inning.
Tri-State quickly cut the deficit in half when Ryan Maggy’s two-run blooper found shallow right field. However, the River Riders responded in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on loaded bases with a two-run single by Jordan Crosland, making his Appalachian League debut, who later scored on a hit by Brady Thompson. Crosland shone in his debut, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and two RBI.
Despite solid performances from Michael Rodriguez and Maggy — who combined for six hits and four RBI — the Coal Cats couldn’t keep pace. Elizabethton tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, while Tri-State’s ninth-inning rally, featuring doubles from Maggy and Xavier Rivera, fell short.
The Coal Cats outhit the River Riders, 13-11, but were undone by nine walks issued by their pitching staff. Brayden Thomas, who pitched the first two innings Friday, took the loss, while Elizabethton reliever Andrew DuMont earned the win.
Game 2
The rubber match of the series, a seven-inning contest to accommodate the doubleheader, showcased a different story for the Coal Cats’ pitching staff. The dominant performance was headlined by Kenyon Collins, who struck out 10 batters across four scoreless innings, including six consecutive punchouts between the second and third innings. His final line: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K.
Tri-State fans may recognize Collins’ name from last summer, when he recorded a 3.68 ERA across 29 1/3 innings pitched as one of the most reliable arms in the rotation. Collins, a native of Ona, West Virginia, also pitches for Marshall, cementing his status as a fan favorite. After Saturday's performance, Collins leads all Appalachian League pitchers in strikeouts.
Tri-State’s offense provided ample support, beginning in the third inning with a two-run single by Chandler Murray that scored Luke Kosko and Sam Winsett. The Cats added two more runs in the fifth, including an RBI from Maggy and a run scored on a wild pitch. Kosko, who went 3-for-4, capped the scoring in the seventh with a single that drove in Jorge Gonzalez-Febo.
Relievers Tucker DeLisle and Carlos Jazmin sealed the shutout, combining for three scoreless innings. Jazmin retired the side in the final frame, highlighted by a called strikeout to clinch the series.
Up next
The Coal Cats will rest Sunday before hosting the Pulaski River Turtles in their home opener at Jack Cook Field in Huntington, West Virginia. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. Monday, with Pulaski coming off a 4-0 victory over Kingsport.
For more information about the Tri-State Coal Cats, visit appyleague.com/tri-state or follow @TriStCoalCats on X and Instagram.
