The Delta Eagles will take on the Eastbrook Panthers at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Delta's pitching crew has only allowed 3.3 runs per game this season, so Eastbrook's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Delta took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They came out on top against Greenfield-Central by a score of 7-4.
Zane Cline made a big impact while hitting and pitching. 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.
Maddox Huffman
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. That's the most RBI Ritchie has posted since back in May of 2024. Another was Campbell Light, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Eastbrook got themselves on the board against Northfield on Thursday, but Northfield never followed suit. They blew past the Norsemen 13-0. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won four matches by nine runs or more so far this season.
Carter Daugherty was a major factor no matter where he played. 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. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
In other batting news, Eastbrook let Will Hodson and Reid Aupperle run wild. 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. Kyler Hackman was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Eastbrook was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .407. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Eastbrook now has a winning record of 5-4. As for Delta, their victory was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-4 and their overall record up to 2-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Delta has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Eastbrook struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
