Baseball Game Preview: Oratory Prep Rams vs. Cranford Cougars

The Oratory Prep Rams will head out on the road to square off against the Cranford Cougars at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Oratory Prep has given up an average of 7 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Oratory Prep lost 14-2 to Millburn on Saturday. The Rams have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Blake Duddy

Home Runs

05/02/26 vs Millburn	1
04/28/26 vs Scotch Plains-Fanwood	1
04/16/26 vs Westfield	1

Blake Duddy was cooking despite his team's loss, going 1-for-2 with one home run. Oratory Prep is 2-1 when Duddy posts one or more home runs, but 5-12 otherwise.

Meanwhile, Cranford had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 4.3 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Friday. They never let the Farmers get on the board and left with a 13-0 victory. The Cougars might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven matchups by seven runs or more this season.

Morgan Nicholls looked comfortable as he kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits over four innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks any time he's pitched this season.

On the hitting side, Patrick Bendert and Brayden Fry did most of the damage at the plate: Bendert went 3-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and one double, while Fry went 2-for-3 with one home run, four runs, and one stolen base. That's the most hits Bendert has posted since back in April. David Rosa also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.

Cranford lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.

Cranford's record now sits at 11-7. As for Oratory Prep, their defeat dropped their record down to 7-13.

Oratory Prep couldn't quite get it done against Cranford in their previous matchup back in April of 2025 as they fell 8-3. Can the Rams avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.