Heber Springs had lost ten straight on the road dating back to last season, but on Monday they dropped their record down to 5-16 to make it 11. They lost 13-4 to the South Side Hornet. The Panthers were not able to make up for their loss to the Hornet from their previous meeting back in April of 2024.
As for South Side, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-7 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.9 runs over those games.
For South Side's part, Justus Anderson was a major factor no matter where he played. He tossed three innings while giving up just two earned runs off two hits. Anderson has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, South Side got a massive performance out of Kai Nichols, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Nichols is becoming a predictor of the Hornet's success: when he posts at least three RBI the team is undefeated (and 6-7 when he doesn't). Another player making a difference was Haze Hulse, who went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one triple.
Looking ahead, Heber Springs will challenge Central Arkansas Christian at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Mustangs will roll in looking for their fourth straight win, something the Panthers surely won't give up without a fight. As for South Side, they will take on White County Central at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
