Shepherd has gone a perfect 8-0 against Harrison recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Bluejays will square off against the Hornets at 4:00 p.m. Shepherd will be looking to extend their current ten-game winning streak.
It was a Battle of the Birds when Shepherd took on Ogemaw Heights on Tuesday. The Bluejays blew past the Falcons 15-3. Considering the Bluejays have won seven contests by more than nine runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Bryce Smith made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over six innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Kaden Yuncker
| 04/28/26 vs Ogemaw Heights | 4 |
| 04/09/26 vs Alma | 2 |
| 04/22/25 @ Pinconning | 2 |
| 04/17/25 vs Clare | 2 |
| 04/28/26 vs Ogemaw Heights | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kaden Yuncker, who went 4-for-5 with four runs, three RBI, and two doubles. Those four hits gave him a new career-high. Sam King was another key player, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and one run.
Shepherd always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .523. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Ogemaw Heights only posted an OBP of .261.
Meanwhile, Harrison hadn't done well against Gladwin recently (they were 0-7 in their previous seven matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Tuesday. The Hornets sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 win over the Flying G's.
Matthew Latunski was incredible, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Josh O'Day, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Shepherd's record now sits at 12-2. As for Harrison, their record is now 4-12.
Shepherd's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's game. The Bluejays have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Harrison, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Shepherd continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Shepherd's way against Harrison in their previous meeting back in May of 2025, as Shepherd made off with a 15-5 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bluejays since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
