Mechanicsburg is on an 11-game streak of home wins (dating back to last season), while West Liberty-Salem is on a three-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Indians will welcome the Tigers at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Mechanicsburg 1.1, West Liberty-Salem 3.7) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Mechanicsburg is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They never let Meadowdale get on the board and left with a 19-0 win on Thursday. The result was nothing new for the Indians, who have now won six games by six runs or more so far this season.
Colton Walborn and Carter Browning made a big impact no matter where they played. On the mound, Walborn struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). Meanwhile, Browning pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Walborn has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up a single hit in three consecutive appearances. At bat, Walborn went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one double, while Browning went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
In other batting news, Mechanicsburg let Shane Eckstein and Conner Eyink run wild. Eckstein went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one double, while Eyink went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one double. Those runs were Eckstein's first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Liam O'Laughlin, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Mechanicsburg always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .697. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, West Liberty-Salem was able to grind out a solid victory over Catholic Central on Thursday, taking the game 8-3. The win continues a trend for the Tigers in their matchups with the Irish: they've now won eight in a row.
Jake Evans and Brodey Deam made a splash while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Evans struck out seven batters over 4.1 innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Meanwhile, Deam tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. At the plate, Evans went 1-for-2 with three RBI and one stolen base, while Deam went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Those three RBI gave Evans a new career-high.
In other batting news, Reese Oder and Isaiah Reames did most of the damage at the plate: Oder went 1-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run, while Reames went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. That's the most runs Reames has posted since back in April of 2024. Isaac Sertell was another key player, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one run.
Mechanicsburg's victory bumped their record up to 7-0. As for West Liberty-Salem, their win bumped their record up to 6-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Mechanicsburg has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 11 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like West Liberty-Salem struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Mechanicsburg skirted past West Liberty-Salem 7-5 in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Indians repeat their success, or do the Tigers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
