The McClave Cardinals will look to take advantage of their home field for the first time this season as they take on the Stratton Eagles at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. McClave's pitching crew has only allowed 2.4 runs per game this season, so Stratton's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
McClave is headed into the contest having just suffered their biggest defeat since April 11, 2025 on Tuesday. They lost 9-2 to Otis. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Cardinals' biggest loss of the season was also their lowest-scoring.
Stratton never got on the board in their matchup on Tuesday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Byers on Thursday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Bulldogs, sneaking past 17-15.
Trevor Moore was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in March. Kiptyn Dempsey was another key player, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with four runs and one double.
They weren't the only ones working in the home run department: Stratton lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Stratton pushed their record up to 9-3 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of two runs across that stretch. As for McClave, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 11-1.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. McClave has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .524. However, it's not like Stratton struggles in that department as they've averaged .483. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
McClave beat Stratton 4-0 in their previous matchup back in April of 2025. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cardinals since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
