The Hobgood Charter Raiders will be taking part in a tournament against the Tarboro Vikings at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Hobgood Charter is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.8 runs per game this season.
If Hobgood Charter beats Tarboro with 18 runs on Wednesday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Raiders blew past Mattamuskeet 18-1 on Thursday. The win continues a trend for the Raiders in their matchups with the Lakers: they've now won four in a row.
LUKE LANIER was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits (and only one walk). He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, CONNER ROBERSON was a standout: he got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in March. TREY HARRIS was another key player, going 1-for-4 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.
Hobgood Charter always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .590. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mattamuskeet only posted an OBP of .300.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Tarboro, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Martin County 6-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Vikings have posted since March 11th.
Like Hobgood Charter, Tarboro also got a great game from a two-way player: Cole Craddock. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over 6.1 innings while giving up five earned runs off five hits. Craddock was also big at the plate, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two stolen bases and one run.
Craddock wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Stephen Ribustello, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI. Ribustello is becoming a predictor of Tarboro's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 3-6 when he doesn't).
Tarboro's victory was their eighth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-6. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.5 runs over those games. As for Hobgood Charter, their victory bumped their record up to 8-4.
