Baseball Game Preview: Shirley Blue Devils vs. Norfork Panthers

Shirley is 0-8 against Norfork since March of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Blue Devils will host the Panthers at 5:30 p.m. Norfork took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on Shirley, who comes in off a win.

Shirley headed into their last contest having not scored more than two runs for three straight, but Calico Rock let them put that streak behind them. The Blue Devils never let the Pirates get on the board and left with a 19-0 victory on Tuesday. The Blue Devils' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.

Brody Bradford

Base on Balls Against

04/07/26 @ Calico Rock	0
04/03/26 @ Concord	2
03/12/26 @ Guy-Perkins	1

Brody Bradford made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI.

In other batting news, Eli Brensnahan was a standout: he got on base in all five of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI. He also got a hit, marking his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Louis Taylor, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.

Shirley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .659. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Norfork faced off against Flippin on Tuesday. The Panthers lost 18-3 to the Bobcats.

Shirley's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-9. As for Norfork, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-10.

Shirley might still be hurting after the 7-0 loss they got from Norfork when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Will the Blue Devils have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.