The Turner Ashby Knights will challenge the Spotswood Trailblazers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both teams are still undefeated (Turner Ashby has five wins , while Spotswood has six dating back to last season).
Turner Ashby's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Harrisonburg with a sharp 19-0 win. That 19 run margin sets a new team best for the Knights this season.
Sammy Moats
| 04/08/25 @ Harrisonburg | 0 |
| 03/25/25 vs Wilson Memorial | 1 |
| 03/17/25 vs Page County | 1 |
Sammy Moats and Cooper Smith were a major factor no matter where they played. On the mound, Moats pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Smith pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Moats has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. At bat, Moats scored a run while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances, while Smith scored two runs while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Turner Ashby got a massive performance out of Will Knicely, who scored a run and stole three bases while going 2-for-2. Another player making a difference was Mason Mantz, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one stolen base.
Turner Ashby was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .375 or higher in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Spotswood). They were the clear victors by a 20-7 margin over Rockbridge County on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Trailblazers, who have now won three contests by ten runs or more so far this season.
Like Turner Ashby, Spotswood also got a great game from a two-way player: Brady Hoover. He tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Hoover was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 3-for-6. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
In other batting news, Landon Buracker was a standout: he scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in five of his six plate appearances. He also put up a double, which was his first of the season. Andrew O'Brian was another key player, going 3-for-5 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
Spotswood's victory was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 6-0. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.9 runs over those games. As for Turner Ashby, their victory bumped their record up to 5-0.
Thursday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Turner Ashby hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .408. However, it's not like Spotswood struggles in that department as they've averaged .374. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Turner Ashby couldn't quite get it done against Spotswood in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 as they fell 5-2. Can the Knights avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
