Woodland Hills hasn't had much luck against Franklin Regional recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Wolverines will challenge the Panthers at 4:00 p.m. Woodland Hills has given up an average of 9.2 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Woodland Hills fell victim to Canon-McMillan and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They lost 17-0 to the Big Macs. The Wolverines' defeat continues a trend for the team, making it three in a row.
Woodland Hills saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was DeVaughn Earl-Hayden, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one double.
Meanwhile, Franklin Regional waltzed into their game on Wednesday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They were the clear victors by an 8-0 margin over the Cavaliers. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won three matchups by eight runs or more so far this season.
James Templeton tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out seven over five innings pitched. Those seven strikeouts gave him a new career-high.
On the hitting side, Chase Lemke was incredible, going 2-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played. Another player making a difference was NJ Ramchandran, who scored two runs while going 2-for-2.
Franklin Regional hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least two batters in four consecutive contests.
Woodland Hills' loss dropped their record down to 2-4. As for Franklin Regional, their record now sits at 7-1.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Woodland Hills hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like Franklin Regional struggles in that department as they've averaged .373. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Woodland Hills came up short against Franklin Regional when the teams last played back in May of 2019, falling 3-0. Can the Wolverines avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
