Chatham is a perfect 7-0 against Germantown since May of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Wednesday. The Panthers will look to defend their home field against the Clippers at 4:30 p.m. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Having struggled with five defeats in a row, Chatham turned things around against Cairo-Durham on Monday. They were the clear victors by an 11-4 margin over the Mustangs. With that win, the Panthers brought their scoring average up to 6.1 runs per game.
Brayden Steltz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up six Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
Thomas Pierro
| 04/20/26 vs Cairo-Durham | 2 |
| 04/18/26 vs Ichabod Crane | 2 |
| 04/01/26 @ Rensselaer | 2 |
| 04/15/26 vs Watervliet | 1 |
| 04/14/26 vs Berlin/New Lebanon | 1 |
| + 2 more games |
On the hitting side, Thomas Pierro was a standout: he got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Chatham's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 2-1 (and 0-4 when he doesn't). Jayden Brantley was another key player, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Chatham always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .516. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Cairo-Durham only posted an OBP of .345.
Meanwhile, Germantown got their first taste of in-conference action on Friday and they started things off strong. They came out on top against Greenville by a score of 13-3 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game).
Brian Gardner made a splash while hitting and pitching. He struck out ten batters over 5.2 innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Gardner was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base. That's the most runs he has posted since back in April of 2025.
Gardner wasn't the only one making solid contact as six players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Logan Burliegh, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI. Those two hits gave Burliegh a new career-high. Another was Jayden Orozco, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Chatham picked up their first home victory, bumping their record up to 2-5. As for Germantown, their win bumped their record up to 2-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Chatham has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Germantown struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Chatham got the 'W' in their previous meeting back in April of 2025 against Germantown by a conclusive 25-2 score. Will the Panthers repeat their success, or do the Clippers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
