Baseball Game Preview: Beachside Barracudas vs. Orange Park Raiders

For the first time this season, Beachside will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup on Monday. They will challenge the Orange Park Raiders at 6:30 p.m. Beachside's hitters haven't had much luck over their past three games, but Monday's contest will give them a chance to turn things around.

Last Friday, Beachside came up short against Episcopal School of Jacksonville and fell 4-1.

Wyatt Winget

Hits Against

03/07/25 vs Episcopal School of Jacksonville	2
02/28/25 vs Ponte Vedra	2
02/21/25 vs Tocoi Creek	1
02/13/25 vs Nease	0

Beachside got a good showing from Wyatt Winget, who pitched two innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Winget has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits any time he's pitched this season.

On the hitting side, Beachside saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Jason Gillespie, who scored a run while going 1-for-3. Jack Tapley also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.

Meanwhile, after soaring to 13 runs the game before, Orange Park was a bit more limited in their match on Friday. They came up short against Mandarin, falling 8-0. The Raiders haven't had much luck with the Mustangs recently, as the team has come up short the last three times they've met.

Beachside's defeat dropped their record down to 2-9. As for Orange Park, their loss dropped their record down to 5-8.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Beachside has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Orange Park struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.

Beachside came out on top in a nail-biter against Orange Park in their previous matchup back in March of 2024, sneaking past 4-3. The rematch might be a little tougher for Beachside since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.