Baseball Game Preview: Hermitage Panthers vs. J.R. Tucker Tigers

Hermitage and J.R. Tucker are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2019, but likely not for long. The Panthers will challenge the Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Hermitage is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They put the hurt on Thomas Jefferson with a sharp 15-1 win on Tuesday. The Panthers haven't had any issues with the Vikings recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive victory against them.

Dro Posada

Runs (Career)

04/29/25 vs Thomas Jefferson	3
04/28/25 @ Meadowbrook	1
04/22/25 vs John Marshall	1
04/10/25 vs L.C. Bird	1
03/26/25 vs Maggie Walker	1

Dro Posada and Conner Wharton did most of the damage at the plate: Posada went 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one double, while Wharton went 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. Those three runs gave Posada a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Brody Davis, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.

Meanwhile, J.R. Tucker had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They came out on top against Varina by a score of 6-3 on Wednesday.

The team relied heavily on Caleb Wood, who went 3-for-4 with two runs and two doubles. Yamal Ferguson also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.

Hermitage's record now sits at 4-9. As for J.R. Tucker, their record is now 2-9.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Hermitage has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like J.R. Tucker struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.

Hermitage beat J.R. Tucker 6-1 in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Tigers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.