Doherty hasn't had much luck against Pine Creek recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Spartans will welcome the Eagles at 4:00 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Doherty comes in on three and Pine Creek on seven.
On Saturday, Doherty beat Smoky Hill 8-4.
Derek Graham made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off six hits. Graham was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Dominick Morelli, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Aharon Enriquez, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases, one run, and one double.
Doherty kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 6-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Pine Creek faced Lewis-Palmer in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. The Eagles skirted past the Rangers 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Eagles have posted since April 7th.
Like Doherty, Pine Creek also got a great game from a two-way player: Aiden Wilson. On the mound, he struck out 12 batters over four innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits (and not a single walk). Wilson has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two RBI.
In other batting news, Javier Jackson was excellent, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Kyle McDonnell was another key player, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with two runs.
Pine Creek pushed their record up to 15-3 with the win, which was their seventh straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.9 runs on average over those games. As for Doherty, their win bumped their record up to 11-9.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Doherty hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .339. However, it's not like Pine Creek struggles in that department as they've averaged .393. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
