Baseball Preview: Keystone Heights Indians vs. Buchholz Bobcats
Keystone Heights is 2-8 against Buchholz since February of 2016 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Keystone Heights Indians will head out on the road to face off against the Buchholz Bobcats at 6:00 p.m. Keystone Heights is looking to tack on another W to their six-game streak on the road.
It may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Keystone Heights ultimately got the result they hoped for on Tuesday. They came out on top against Middleburg by a score of 8-4. Eight seems to be a good number for Keystone Heights as the team scooped up a victory with the same number of runs in their previous game.
Gage Barry tossed a big game, striking out seven batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits.
At the plate, Ty Mitzel and Kenneth Guy did most of the damage at the plate: Mitzel scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2, while Guy scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Austin Smith, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, in what's become a running theme this season, Buchholz gave their fans yet another huge win on Tuesday. They were the clear victor by a 13-3 margin over Columbia. With that victory, Buchholz brought their scoring average up to 6.4 runs per game.
JJ Gardner was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off two hits. Gardner has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive pitching appearances. Gardner was also big at the plate, scoring a run while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Conner Brown was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. Cedaris Smith was another key contributor, scoring two runs while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.
Keystone Heights' record is now 12-2. As for Buchholz, their record is now 9-5.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both teams have some strikeout artists on the roster. Keystone Heights has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Buchholz struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.5. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Keystone Heights suffered a grim 9-2 defeat to Buchholz in their previous matchup back in April of 2021. Thankfully for Keystone Heights, Jackson Peters (who pitched five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits (he also only allowed one walk)) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
