We've got a battle between Lions coming up. Hickory Grove Christian is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 12.2 runs per game this season.
Hickory Grove Christian's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They blew past Gaston Day 12-0. The Lions haven't had any issues with the Spartans recently, as the game was their ninth consecutive victory against them.
Gavin Pelow
| 03/11/25 @ Gaston Day | 3 |
| 02/28/25 vs Charlotte Latin | 1 |
| 04/04/24 vs Pinewood Prep | 1 |
| 03/14/24 vs Weddington | 1 |
| 03/11/24 vs Sun Valley | 1 |
The team relied heavily on Gavin Pelow, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high. Jack Dwyer was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Covenant Day hadn't done well against Wesleyan Christian Academy recently (they were 1-6 in their previous seven matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Tuesday. Covenant Day sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 4-3 win over Wesleyan Christian Academy. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Lions.
Grant Gardner tossed a big game, striking out 14 batters over 5.2 innings while giving up three earned runs off five hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts any time he's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Austin Price was excellent, scoring a run while going 2-for-2. He also put up a double, which was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Ethan Andujar, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Covenant Day pushed their record up to 4-1 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.2 runs on average over those games. As for Hickory Grove Christian, their record is now 4-1.
Hickory Grove Christian's speedy runners might be the difference in Thursday's contest. Hickory Grove Christian has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Covenant Day, though, as they've been averaging only 0.6 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Hickory Grove Christian continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Hickory Grove Christian's way against Covenant Day in their previous meeting back in March of 2021, as Hickory Grove Christian made off with a 22-4 win. Does Hickory Grove Christian have another victory up their sleeve, or will Covenant Day turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
