Baseball Game Preview: Staley Falcons vs. Howell Vikings

The Staley Falcons will face off against the Howell Vikings at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Staley is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.

Staley gave up the first runs last Monday, but they didn't let that get them down. They blew past Rockhurst 10-3. The result was nothing new for the Falcons, who have now won five matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.

Jake Thomas looked comfortable as he tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off seven hits.

On the hitting side, Evan Abbott and Easton Phillippe did most of the damage at the plate: Abbott went 3-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, and one double, while Phillippe scored a run and stole a base while going 3-for-3. That double marked the first that Abbott hit this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Vincent Brenneman Ii, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2.

Staley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Howell earned a 6-1 win over Troy-Buchanan on Wednesday. The victory continues a trend for the Vikings in their matchups with the Trojans: they've now won six in a row.

Staley's win was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-0. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for Howell, their win bumped their record up to 10-1.

Staley suffered a grim 14-4 defeat to Howell when the teams last played back in April of 2023. Will the Falcons have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.