The Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats will face off against the Century Centurions at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The last five games Anna-Jonesboro has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Anna-Jonesboro took a 12-run defeat the last time they faced off against Murphysboro, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Wildcats narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Red Devils 2-1. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Wildcats have posted against the Red Devils since April 27, 2022.
Aaron Sheffer
| 03/18/25 @ Carbondale | 8 |
| 04/22/25 @ Pinckneyville | 5 |
| 04/01/25 @ Herrin | 4 |
| 04/08/25 @ Benton | 2 |
| 03/26/25 @ Goreville | 2 |
| + 3 more games |
Aaron Sheffer spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on one hit and racked up 12 Ks. He is becoming a predictor of Anna-Jonesboro's success: when he allows at most one hit the team is 2-1 (and 4-9 when he doesn't).
At the plate, Anna-Jonesboro's victory was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Taj Hodges, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Century waltzed into their game on Thursday with seven straight wins... but they left with eight. They put the hurt on the Knights with a sharp 26-11 win. The Centurions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight matches by six runs or more this season.
The team relied heavily on Brandon Plott, who got on base in all five of his plate appearances with four runs, four RBI, and one triple. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Caden Crain, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI.
Century kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in four consecutive contests.
Century pushed their record up to 9-3 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.4 runs over those games. As for Anna-Jonesboro, their victory bumped their record up to 6-10.
Everything went Anna-Jonesboro's way against Century in their previous matchup back in May of 2021, as Anna-Jonesboro made off with a 10-0 win. Do the Wildcats have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Centurions turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
