Baseball Game Preview: Clinton Central Bulldogs vs. Faith Christian Eagles

The Clinton Central Bulldogs will venture away from home to face off against the Faith Christian Eagles at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Clinton Central is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.8 runs per game this season.

Clinton Central was handed a heart-breaking two-run defeat in their last game, but they sure didn't let that happen against Bethesda Christian on Thursday. The Bulldogs put the hurt on the Patriots with a sharp 18-7 win. The victory continues a trend for the Bulldogs in their matchups with the Patriots: they've now won five in a row.

Luke Shelley

Hits (Career)

04/17/25 vs Bethesda Christian	2
05/20/24 vs Carroll	1
05/11/24 vs Western Boone	1
05/06/24 @ Eastern	1
05/02/24 @ Clinton Prairie	1

Luke Shelley was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one triple. Those two hits gave him a new career-high. Klayton Stevens was another key player, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.

Clinton Central always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .548. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, after soaring to 11 runs the game before, Faith Christian was a bit more limited in their contest on Thursday. They took a 7-2 hit to the loss column at the hands of North White.

Faith Christian dropped their record down to 1-3 with the loss, which was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season. As for Clinton Central, the win was their first at home , bumping their record up to 2-3.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Clinton Central has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Faith Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.

Everything went Clinton Central's way against Faith Christian when the teams last played back in May of 2023, as Clinton Central made off with a 21-0 victory. Will the Bulldogs repeat their success, or do the Eagles have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.