Baseball Game Preview: Centralia Panthers vs. Battle Spartans

Panthers

Runs

03/25/25 @ Bowling Green	11
03/24/25 @ South Callaway	0
03/22/25 @ Marceline	16
03/22/25 vs Harrisburg	10
03/21/25 vs Eugene	2

The Centralia Panthers will challenge the Battle Spartans at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Centralia is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.

Centralia will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Monday, then bounced right back against Bowling Green on Tuesday. Centralia walked away with an 11-6 win over Bowling Green. While the Panthers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.

Cole Higginson was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Higginson was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4. He also put up a double, which was his first of the season.

In other batting news, Henry Bohlmeyer was a standout: he went 1-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Chase Kempker, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.

Meanwhile, Battle was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their eighth straight loss dating back to last season. They came up short against Fort Zumwalt North, falling 12-2. That's two games in a row now that the Spartans have lost by exactly ten runs.

Centralia's victory bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Battle, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-2.

Centralia might still be hurting after the 18-6 loss they got from Battle in their previous meeting back in April of 2018. Will Centralia have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.