The Early Panthers are taking a road trip to take on the Skyline Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Early is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.9 runs per game this season.
Early managed to slip by Pleasant Hope the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Panthers came up short against the Pirates on Tuesday, falling 8-2. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last five times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Byron Bolton
| 03/30/26 vs Miller | 3 |
| 04/14/26 @ Pleasant Hope | 2 |
| 04/10/26 vs Dadeville | 2 |
| 04/09/26 vs Weaubleau | 2 |
| 04/07/26 vs Macks Creek | 2 |
| + 4 more games |
Early saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Byron Bolton, who went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs. The Panthers are 5-2 when Bolton posts two or more runs, but 3-4 otherwise. Lucas Cutler also deserves some recognition as he hit his first triple of the season.
Meanwhile, Skyline came up short against Appleton City on Tuesday and fell 8-5.
Paxton Foster and Noah Long stepped up to the plate in a big way. Foster went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two doubles, while Long went 2-for-3 with one home run, three stolen bases, and three runs.
Early dropped their record down to 8-6 with the loss, which was their third straight on the road. As for Skyline, their record now sits at 10-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Early has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Skyline struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.3 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Early was able to grind out a solid victory over Skyline in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, winning 7-3. 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.
