The Ponce De Leon Pirates will face off against the Altha Wildcats at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Ponce De Leon is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.8 runs per game this season.
Ponce De Leon lost 10-3 to Rocky Bayou Christian on Tuesday.
Braiden Yates
| 03/14/25 vs Gadsden County | 3 |
| 03/07/25 vs Varsity Opponent | 3 |
| 03/04/25 @ Bethlehem | 3 |
| 04/08/25 @ Rocky Bayou Christian | 2 |
| 04/01/25 @ Poplar Springs | 2 |
| + 8 more games |
Ponce De Leon saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Braiden Yates, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 1-for-3. The Pirates are 6-2 when Yates posts two or more runs, but 3-4 otherwise.
Meanwhile, Altha hadn't done well against Wakulla Christian School recently (they were 0-7 in their previous seven matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Wildcats blew past the Saints 7-1. Considering the Wildcats have won 11 contests by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Riley Rowe spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on five hits and racked up nine Ks. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than one earned run in eight consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Griffin Pickron was excellent, scoring a run while going 1-for-4. Aidan Grover was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 3-for-4.
The victory made it two in a row for Altha and bumps their season record up to 12-5. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 8 runs in those games. As for Ponce De Leon, their defeat ended a nine-game streak of away wins dating back to last season and brought them to 9-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Ponce De Leon has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Altha struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Ponce De Leon's way against Altha when the teams last played back in March of 2024, as Ponce De Leon made off with a 13-3 victory. Do the Pirates have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wildcats turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
