The IMG Academy Royal Ascenders will challenge the McKeel Academy Wildcats at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The last four games IMG Academy Royal has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
While IMG Academy Royal didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-15), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They skirted past Carrollwood Day 4-3. That's two games straight that the Ascenders have won by just one run.
IMG Academy Royal got a great performance from Zach Brauer as he tossed five innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits.
At the plate, Kanta Miyabe was a standout: he scored two runs and stole Two bases. The team also got some help courtesy of Jaxson Vassallo, who went 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Meanwhile, McKeel Academy unfortunately witnessed the end of their three-game winning streak on Friday. They fell 7-4 to Berkeley Prep.
Kaden Howell spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned (and six unearned) runs on six hits and racked up ten Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than ten strikeouts in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, McKeel Academy saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aedan Tompkins, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Carter Rouse was another, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.
IMG Academy Royal pushed their record up to 6-2 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. They've had to fight for that success though, as they only beat their opponents by an average of 1.25 runs across that stretch. As for McKeel Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 4-3.
McKeel Academy's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: IMG Academy Royal hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .313. It's a different story for McKeel Academy, though, as they've only averaged .211. Will they be able to contain IMG Academy Royal's hitters?
IMG Academy Royal skirted past McKeel Academy 10-9 when the teams last played back in March of 2023. Does IMG Academy Royal have another victory up their sleeve, or will McKeel Academy turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
