The Parkville Knights will head out to face off against the Kenwood Bluebirds at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Parkville barely beat Lansdowne the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. Parkville blew past Lansdowne 11-1 on Thursday. That looming 11-1 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Knights yet this season.
Nate Magness tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched.
At the plate, Sam Ayd was a standout: he got on base in all three of his plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Those RBI were his first of the season. Teddy Pineda was another key player, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one double.
Parkville always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .645. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lansdowne only posted an OBP of .400.
Meanwhile, Kenwood got the win against Dundalk on Thursday by a conclusive 14-5. The victory continues a trend for the Bluebirds in their matchups with the Owls: they've now won three in a row.
Kyle Rineman made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out ten batters over 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). Rineman was also stellar in the batter's box, going 4-for-5 with four runs, two stolen bases, and four RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Carter Pugh, who scored four runs and stole two bases while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. Pugh is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: he's snagged at least one every time he's taken the field this season. Another player making a difference was Kyle Morgan, who scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances.
The win (which was Parkville's fourth in a row) raised their record to 4-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.3 runs over those games. As for Kenwood, their record now sits at 3-1.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Parkville has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .454. However, it's not like Kenwood struggles in that department as they've averaged .508. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Parkville came out on top in a nail-biter against Kenwood in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, sneaking past 2-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for Parkville since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
