The Kerr-Vance Academy Spartans will face off against the Cape Fear Christian Academy Eagles at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Kerr-Vance Academy has struggled recently with three losses in a row, while Cape Fear Christian Academy will arrive with three straight wins.
Kerr-Vance Academy had taken Halifax Academy down for two straight games at home, but that winning streak came to an end on Tuesday. Kerr-Vance Academy fell 6-2 to Halifax Academy.
Evan Johnson was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3. That stolen base was his first of the season.
Meanwhile, it was a Battle of the Birds when Cape Fear Christian Academy challenged Lee Christian on Monday. Cape Fear Christian Academy blew past Lee Christian 18-3. The Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five games by eight runs or more this season.
Conner Parrish was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Cape Fear Christian Academy is undefeated when Parrish posts two or more runs, but 1-3 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Cooper Davis, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-3.
Cape Fear Christian Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .559. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .500 or higher in three consecutive contests.
Cape Fear Christian Academy's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 6-3. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. As for Kerr-Vance Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Kerr-Vance Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Cape Fear Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Kerr-Vance Academy was able to grind out a solid victory over Cape Fear Christian Academy when the teams last played on March 4th, winning 7-3. Will Kerr-Vance Academy repeat their success, or does Cape Fear Christian Academy has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
