Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and Canby are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2015, but likely not for long. The Panthers will welcome the Lancers at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past four contests -- so hopefully Canby likes a good challenge.
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton barely beat Ortonville the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Panthers blew past the Trojans 11-1 on Thursday.
Connor Lanoue made a splash while hitting and pitching. He struck out seven batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. He also tossed two walks, which is notable because Tracy-Milroy-Balaton is undefeated when he allows at most two walks, but 5-6 otherwise. Lanoue was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs.
Noah Knakmuhs
| 05/01/25 @ Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg | 4 |
| 05/08/25 vs Ortonville | 3 |
| 05/06/25 vs Central Minnesota Christian | 3 |
| 05/06/25 vs Wabasso | 2 |
| 04/29/25 vs MACCRAY | 2 |
| + 4 more games |
In other batting news, Noah Knakmuhs and Griffin Zick did most of the damage at the plate: Knakmuhs went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI, while Zick went 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton is undefeated when Knakmuhs posts three or more hits, but 5-6 otherwise. David Schuh was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.2 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 games they've averaged 14.2.
Meanwhile, Canby came into Thursday's matchup having lost four straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-4 victory over Lakeview on Thursday.
Jace Rangaard spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on eight hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Canby let Will Abrahamson and Cash Antony run wild. Abrahamson went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs, while Antony went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. Those three stolen bases gave Antony a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Jace Sigler, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-6 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.8 runs over those games. As for Canby, their victory bumped their record up to 3-6-1.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Canby struggles in that department as they've been averaging 5.3 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Everything went Tracy-Milroy-Balaton's way against Canby in their previous matchup back in May of 2024, as Tracy-Milroy-Balaton made off with an 8-0 win. Will the Panthers repeat their success, or do the Lancers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
