Okemah is 0-10 against Stroud since March of 2016 but things could change on Monday. The Panthers will welcome the Tigers at 5:00 p.m.
Okemah is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 22 runs on Tuesday, they were much more limited against Meeker on Thursday. They lost 8-1 to the Bulldogs.
Okemah saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Brodie Crowe, who went 1-for-4 with one RBI.
Meanwhile, Stroud came tearing into Thursday's matchup with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.2 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They never let the Wolverines get on the board and left with a 13-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won ten contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
Brayden Davis looked comfortable as he pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Stroud got a massive performance out of Cal Shields, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Jessen Leathers, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Stroud always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .640. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Holdenville only posted an OBP of .200.
Stroud's win bumped their record up to 14-5. As for Okemah, their loss dropped their record down to 5-15.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Okemah has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .437. However, it's not like Stroud struggles in that department as they've averaged .465. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Okemah suffered a grim 13-1 defeat to Stroud when the teams last played back in March. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.