Baseball Game Preview: James Monroe Mavericks vs. Independence Patriots

The James Monroe Mavericks will face off against the Independence Patriots at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. James Monroe is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.1 runs per game this season.

James Monroe lost 14-4 to Greenbrier East on Monday.

James Monroe saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Peyton Gardinier, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Carson Koen was another, scoring a run while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Independence, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Saturday. They walked away with an 8-5 victory over PikeView on Monday. The Patriots haven't had any issues with the Panthers recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.

Degan Williams was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Williams was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 3-for-3.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Reid Warden, who scored a run while going 1-for-3. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in RBI (three). Another player making a difference was Cole Cunningham, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.

Independence's victory bumped their record up to 3-7-1. As for James Monroe, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-7.

James Monroe's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's match. The Mavericks have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.9 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Independence, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will James Monroe continue to outrun the ball?

James Monroe suffered a grim 8-0 defeat to Independence in their previous meeting back in April of 2023. Will the Mavericks have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.