Bryan hasn't had much luck against Bellevue East recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Bears will welcome the Chieftains at 4:30 p.m. Bryan has given up an average of 10.9 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Bryan lost 18-3 to York on Monday. The Bears have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Westin Williams was cooking despite his team's loss, going a perfect 1-for-1 with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Bellevue East, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They came out on top against Omaha South by a score of 7-2 on Monday.
Connor Dolezal looked comfortable as he tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Ben Shearer, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs and one double. Bellevue East is 3-1 when Shearer posts two or more runs, but 7-9 otherwise. Ethan Greenwell was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI.
Bellevue East hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are 4-1 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Bellevue East's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-10. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Bryan, their loss dropped their record down to 5-12.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bryan has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .440. However, it's not like Bellevue East struggles in that department as they've averaged .443. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bryan might still be hurting after the 18-1 defeat they got from Bellevue East in their previous matchup back in March of 2023. Can the Bears avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
