The Pasco Pirates will venture away from home to challenge the Sunlake Seahawks at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Pasco is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
Pasco made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Wiregrass Ranch, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Pirates blew past the Bulls 10-0 on Monday. Ten seems to be a good number for the Pirates as the squad scooped up a victory with the same number of runs in their previous game.
Jayce Rollins
| 04/07/25 @ Wiregrass Ranch | 14 |
| 04/01/25 @ Wesley Chapel | 7 |
| 03/26/25 vs Central | 15 |
| 03/13/25 vs Weeki Wachee | 6 |
| 03/07/25 @ Hudson | 15 |
| + 3 more games |
Jayce Rollins made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 14 over seven innings pitched. He has been consistent : he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with one RBI.
In other batting news, Boomer Newton and Carson Wheatley did most of the damage at the plate: Newton went 4-for-5 with four runs, three doubles, and one RBI, while Wheatley went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most runs Newton has posted since back in April of 2024. Bryce Mangiaracina also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Pasco kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Sunlake had already won four in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 6.5 runs) and they went ahead and made it five on Thursday. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 3-2 W against the Eagles.
Wyatt Dion tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out ten over six innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Sunlake is 7-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 5-7 otherwise.
At the plate, Sunlake saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Zander Moore, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
Sunlake's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 12-8. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.0 runs over those games. As for Pasco, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 11-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pasco has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Sunlake struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Pasco took their victory against Sunlake in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 6-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Pirates since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
