Baseball Game Preview: Cloverdale Clovers vs. Clay City Eels

Cloverdale is 0-5 against Clay City since May of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Clovers will be playing at home against the Eels at 5:30 p.m. After the two teams made easy work of their previous opponents, one won't be so lucky on Thursday.

Cloverdale is looking to give their home crowd another W after opening their season at home on Monday. Everything went their way against Dugger Union as they made off with a 20-4 victory. The Clovers haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive win against them.

Drake Hoffa

Runs Batted In (Career)

04/07/25 vs Dugger Union	5
05/13/24 @ North Central	4
04/06/24 vs White River Valley	3
05/16/24 vs Dugger Union	2
05/22/24 vs South Putnam	1

Drake Hoffa made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out six batters over 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). Hoffa was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with one home run, three stolen bases, and five RBI. Those five RBI gave him a new career-high.

In other batting news, Hudson Young was a standout: he scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Corey Branigan, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.

Cloverdale always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .711. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Dugger Union only posted an OBP of .273.

Meanwhile, Clay City never let their opponents score on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 12-0 margin over Northview.

Cloverdale couldn't quite finish off Clay City when the teams last played back in April of 2023 and fell 3-1. Can the Clovers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.