Baseball Game Preview: Fairmont Firebirds vs. Northmont Thunderbolts

The Fairmont Firebirds are taking a road trip to take on the Northmont Thunderbolts at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Fairmont lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Beavercreek, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Friday's contest. The Firebirds never let the Beavers get on the board and left with a 7-0 victory on Friday. The Firebirds not only won on Friday, but they posted their biggest win since April 9th (when they won 12-1).

The result came thanks to Brayden Vance's shutout, as he gave up just two hits and racked up ten Ks.

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Tyler Mastro, who went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in March. Schyler Zent was another key player, going 1-for-2 with three RBI.

Northmont came out on top against Fairfield on Saturday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run first inning. The Thunderbolts took their game against the Indians 6-1. The win was some much needed relief for the Thunderbolts as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.

Northmont also got a great performance from Kaden Nickell as he pitched five innings while giving up just one earned run off seven hits. Nickell has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Drake Sauber was a standout: he went 1-for-2 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three RBI. Chase Fuduloff also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.

Fairmont's record now sits at 10-7. As for Northmont, their record is now 4-9-1.

Fairmont was able to grind out a solid victory over Northmont in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, winning 4-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Firebirds since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.