Baseball Game Preview: Shaw Raiders vs. Smiths Station Panthers

The Shaw Raiders will take on the Smiths Station Panthers at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Shaw is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.

Shaw will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Wednesday, then bounced right back against Kendrick on Friday. Shaw was the clear victors by a 19-1 margin over Kendrick. The Raiders have beaten the Cherokees the last six times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Cherokees has come to flipping the script.

Dylan Lockhart

Earned Runs

02/17/25 @ St. Anne-Pacelli	6
02/10/25 @ Marion County	2
03/14/25 vs Kendrick	1
03/04/25 @ Spencer	1

Dylan Lockhart was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. He has become a key player for Shaw: the team is undefeated when he allows at most one earned run, but 5-7 otherwise. Lockhart was also big at the plate, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in February.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Otis Stephens, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. Shaw is undefeated when Stephens posts three or more RBI, but 4-7 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Deshaun Mays, who scored three runs and stole Two bases. while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.

Shaw always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .893. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Smiths Station was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their sixth straight defeat. They came up short against Glenwood, falling 14-3.

Smiths Station's loss dropped their record down to 6-13. As for Shaw, they now have a winning record of 8-7.