Mercer County had lost three straight at home, but on Friday they dropped their record down to 8-11 to make it four. They fell 10-6 to the Newman Central Catholic Comets. The Golden Eagles were not able to make up for their loss to the Comets from their previous meeting back in April of 2024.
Carson Boelens and Kale Breeden did some serious damage despite the final result: Boelens went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run, while Breeden went 2-for-3 with three runs. Another player making a difference was Mason Gray, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
As for Newman Central Catholic, the win was the fourth in a row for them, bringing their record up to 15-2-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games.
On Newman Central Catholic's side, Ashton Miner made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched six innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off nine hits. What's more, Miner posted three strikeouts, the most he's had since back in March. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Garret Matznick, who went 3-for-5 with four stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Those four stolen bases gave him a new career-high. Evan Bushman was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Mercer County will head out to challenge Monmouth United at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Golden Eagles' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Red Storm have averaged an impressive 9.2 runs per game this season. As for Newman Central Catholic, they will venture away from home to face off against Byron at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. The Tigers will roll in looking for their 13th straight win, something the Comets surely won't give up without a fight.
