The Eastbrook Panthers will venture away from home to square off against the Delta Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Eastbrook is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.6 runs per game this season.
Eastbrook came out on top against Northfield on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive ten-run sixth inning. The Panthers never let the Norsemen get on the board and left with a 13-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won four contests by nine runs or more so far this season.
Carter Daugherty was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out 11 over six innings pitched. Those 11 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
Will Hodson
| 04/17/25 @ Northfield | 5 |
| 04/12/25 vs Southwood | 4 |
| 05/16/24 vs South Adams | 2 |
| 04/20/24 @ Wabash | 2 |
| 04/09/25 vs Wes-Del | 1 |
In other batting news, Will Hodson and Reid Aupperle did most of the damage at the plate: Hodson went 1-for-3 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs, while Aupperle got on base in all four of his plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Those five RBI gave Hodson a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Blake Jacobs, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one double.
Eastbrook kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Northfield only managed two hits.
Meanwhile, Delta hadn't done well against Greenfield-Central recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. The Eagles came out on top against the Cougars by a score of 7-4.
Like Eastbrook, Delta also got a great game from a two-way player: Zane Cline. He didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over 4.2 innings pitched. Cline was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season.
In other pitching news, Maddox Huffman looked comfortable as he tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He also tossed a walk, which is notable because Delta is 2-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 0-3 otherwise.
Cline wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Chase Ritchie, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double. Everrett Linn was another, going 1-for-3 with two runs.
Delta's win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-4 and their overall record up to 2-4. As for Eastbrook, they now have a winning record of 5-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Eastbrook has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Delta struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
