The Manti Templars will face off against the Delta Rabbits at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Manti lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Emery, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Tuesday's game. The Templars were the clear victors by a 17-4 margin over the Spartans on Tuesday. Considering the Templars have won five contests by more than seven runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Manti let Stephen Robbins and Boston Hatch run wild. Robbins went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI, while Hatch went 2-for-3 with five RBI, two runs, and one double. That's the most hits Hatch has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Gregg Powell, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three runs.
Manti always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .686. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Delta had already won two in a row and they went ahead and made it three on Friday. They walked away with an 11-7 victory over the Wasps.
Mason Robinson was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 4.2 innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Clay Nielson and Drake Quackenbush did most of the damage at the plate: Nielson went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run, while Quackenbush got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two RBI and one run. Kyler Davies was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
Manti's win bumped their record up to 9-6. As for Delta, their victory bumped their record up to 13-1.
Wednesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Manti has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .475. However, it's not like Delta struggles in that department as they've averaged .471. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Manti got the 'W' in their previous matchup back in April of 2025 against Delta by a conclusive 12-2 score. Will the Templars repeat their success, or do the Rabbits have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
