Baseball Game Preview: Thornwood Thunderbirds vs. Rich Township Raptors

For the second straight game, Thornwood will face off against Rich Township. The Thunderbirds will look to defend their home field on Thursday against the Raptors at 4:30 p.m. Thornwood has given up an average of 7.3 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Thornwood managed to slip by Rich Township the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. The Thunderbirds lost 11-1 to the Raptors on Wednesday. Having soared to a lofty 11 runs in the game before, the Thunderbirds couldn't push the score so high this time.

For Rich Township's part, Jesiah Dawson made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits (and only one walk). Dawson is becoming a predictor of Rich Township's success: when he allows at most one earned run the team is 4-2 (and 4-9 when he doesn't). Dawson was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three runs and one stolen base.

Dawson wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Kobe Burnette, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and one double. Those four RBI gave Burnette a new career-high.

Rich Township was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .455. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.

Rich Township's victory bumped their record up to 8-11. As for Thornwood, their loss ended a four-game streak of away wins and brought them to 10-7.