The Bishop Moore Hornets will square off against The First Academy Royals at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Bishop Moore is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Bishop Moore will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Friday, then bounced right back against Mount Dora on Wednesday. The Hornets put the hurt on the Hurricanes with a sharp 14-3 victory. The Hornets have beaten the Hurricanes the last four times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Hurricanes has come to flipping the script.
Drew Kunz spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered three runs (all of which were unearned) on five hits and racked up nine Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up a single earned run in four consecutive appearances.
Jesiah Woodside
| 04/09/25 @ Mount Dora | 4 |
| 03/26/25 @ Lake Brantley | 2 |
| 03/04/25 @ Montverde Academy | 2 |
| 02/20/25 @ Edgewater | 2 |
| 04/24/24 @ Oviedo | 2 |
On the hitting side, Jesiah Woodside was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one run, and one double. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Will Kane was another key player, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3.
Bishop Moore always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .545. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mount Dora only posted an OBP of .160.
For the second game in a row, fans were treated to another clash between #40 The First Academy and #53 Windermere. The Royals walked away with an 8-5 win over the Wolverines on Tuesday. The victory was nothing new for the Royals as they're now sitting on five straight.
Kyle Hopper tossed a big game, pitching five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off eight hits.
At the plate, Roy Rodriguez and Kinon Bastian did most of the damage at the plate: Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run, while Bastian scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Remo Indomenico, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Bishop Moore's win bumped their record up to 17-6. As for The First Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 19-4.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bishop Moore has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .458. However, it's not like The First Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .447. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bishop Moore skirted past The First Academy 4-2 when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Do the Hornets have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Royals turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
