Baseball Preview: Mulberry Panthers vs. Ridge Community Bolts
The Mulberry Panthers will square off against the Ridge Community Bolts at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Mulberry is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Last Friday, Mulberry had just enough and edged Bartow out 5-3.
Noah Campbell spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered three earned runs on three hits and racked up eight Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't pitched less than five innings in four consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, Mulberry let Cooper Wright and Dominick Gotauco loose on the outfield. Wright scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4, while Gotauco scored a run and stole a base while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Nic Partridge, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Ridge Community unfortunately witnessed the end of their four-game winning streak on Thursday. They fell just short of Winter Haven by a score of 9-7. Ridge Community has struggled against Winter Haven recently, as their game on Thursday was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.
Adrian Cuadrado made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Mulberry pushed their record up to 11-7 with that victory, which was their third straight at home. Those good results were due in large part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.7 runs per game. As for Ridge Community, their loss dropped their record down to 11-4.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mulberry has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .451. However, it's not like Ridge Community struggles in that department as they've averaged .505. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mulberry beat Ridge Community 7-3 when the teams last played back in April of 2023. Does Mulberry have another victory up their sleeve, or will Ridge Community turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
