Baseball Game Preview: Conner Cougars vs. Dixie Heights Colonels

The Conner Cougars will take on the Dixie Heights Colonels at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Conner made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Beechwood, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Cougars fell just short of the Tigers by a score of 6-4 on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Cougars have suffered since April 15th.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Dixie Heights and St. Henry meet (five straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Thursday. The Colonels walked away with a 6-2 victory over the Crusaders.

Noah Cline spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned runs on six hits and racked up six Ks. He also tossed a walk, which is notable because Dixie Heights is 2-1 when he allows at most two walks, but 11-12 otherwise.

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Oliver Linstruth, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. He has become a key player for Dixie Heights: the team is 4-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 9-12 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Cameron Schroer, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.

The win got Dixie Heights back to even at 13-13. As for Conner, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 16-14 record this season.

Conner got the 'W' in their previous meeting back in April against Dixie Heights by a conclusive 14-3 score. Do the Cougars have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Colonels turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.