Baseball Game Preview: Ripon Christian Knights vs. Hughson Huskies

The Ripon Christian Knights are taking a road trip to face off against the Hughson Huskies at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Ripon Christian is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.

Ripon Christian fell victim to Hughson and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They lost 15-0 to the Huskies. The Knights have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

For Hughson's part, Max Mankins made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out seven over four innings pitched. What's more, Mankins gave up only zero earned runs, the fewest he's had since back in May of 2024. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with one RBI.

In other batting news, Hughson let Beau Blake and Andrew Fisher run wild. Blake scored three runs while going 4-for-4, while Fisher scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. Fisher continues to improve, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Lawson Aviles, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-5.

Hughson kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in three consecutive matches.

Hughson's win was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 9-2. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.2 runs over those games. As for Ripon Christian, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-5.

Friday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Ripon Christian has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .442. However, it's not like Hughson struggles in that department as they've averaged .461. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.