The Stratton Eagles will challenge the Otis Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. The timing isn't great for Stratton: they have been struggling with three straight losses at home, while Otis has snatched up three consecutive wins on the road.
McClave hit Stratton with a five-run fifth inning on Saturday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Eagles fell 7-4 to the Cardinals.
Ricky Schillig was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he struck out nine batters over 4.1 innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and only one walk). What's more, he gave up only one walk, the fewest he's had since back in March.
On the hitting side, Von Isenbart and Grady Steerman stepped up to the plate in a big way. Isenbart went a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base and one RBI, while Steerman got on base in all three of his plate appearances with one stolen base and one run. Keegan Isenbart also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, Otis made easy work of McClave on Tuesday and carried off a 9-2 win. The Bulldogs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine matchups by seven runs or more this season.
Gavin Price was a major factor no matter where he played. He struck out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits. Those 12 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Gracen Bechtle was excellent, going 1-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in April of 2025. Raegan Torres was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
Stratton's loss dropped their record down to 9-5. As for Otis, their victory bumped their record up to 11-4.
Monday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Stratton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .333. However, it's not like Otis struggles in that department as they've averaged .413. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Stratton couldn't quite finish off Otis when the teams last played back in April of 2025 and fell 9-7. Will the Eagles have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.