The South Mecklenburg Sabres will take on the Sun Valley Spartans at 6:45 p.m. on Friday. South Mecklenburg's pitching crew has only allowed 4.1 runs per game this season, so Sun Valley's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
South Mecklenburg's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Wednesday's struggle, when Catawba Ridge hitters got past them. South Mecklenburg came up short against Catawba Ridge on Wednesday, falling 11-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Sabres have suffered since April 2, 2024.
South Mecklenburg saw eight different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Chris Short, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
While Sun Valley didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-16), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They walked away with a 10-7 victory over South Mecklenburg on Tuesday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Spartans.
Connor Salerno looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out eight over four innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts any time he's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Braxton McGinniss was a standout: he went a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI and one run. Another player making a difference was Ayden Matzke, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Sun Valley's win bumped their record up to 8-3. As for South Mecklenburg, their defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 9-6.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. South Mecklenburg has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .455. However, it's not like Sun Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .465. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
South Mecklenburg couldn't quite get it done against Sun Valley when the teams last played on Tuesday as they fell 10-7. Will South Mecklenburg have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
