Karns City is on a three-game streak of home wins, while Redbank Valley is on a six-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Gremlins will host the Bulldogs at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Karns City proved they can win big on Wednesday (they won by 17) and on Monday they proved they can win the close ones too. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Moniteau 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Gremlins have posted since May 10, 2024.
Jacob Jones
| 05/12/25 @ Moniteau | 13 |
| 05/06/25 vs Union/Allegheny-Clarion Valley | 12 |
| 04/22/25 vs Clarion-Limestone | 10 |
| 03/25/24 vs Clarion-Limestone | 9 |
| 04/28/25 vs Keystone | 8 |
Jacob Jones was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 13 batters over 6.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits (and only one walk). Those 13 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two doubles.
Jones wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Brock Dittman, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Another was Tyson Frazer, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Redbank Valley had just enough and edged out Clarion Area 8-6 on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Bulldogs have posted against the Bobcats since April 23, 2021.
Like Karns City, Redbank Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Jaxon Huffman. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over four innings pitched. Huffman has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Karns City is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 11-5 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Redbank Valley, their win bumped their record up to 11-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Karns City has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Redbank Valley struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Karns City's way against Redbank Valley in their previous meeting back in April, as Karns City made off with a 9-2 victory. Do the Gremlins have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
