The Clements Colts will take on the Rogers Pirates at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Clements is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.8 runs per game this season.
Clements was handed a heart-breaking two-run loss in their last contest, but they sure didn't let that happen against Columbia on Tuesday. Clements put the hurt on Columbia with a sharp 15-4 win. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Colts considering their one-run performance the match before.
Grayson Kennington was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs while going 2-for-4. Those two hits gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Hayden Tucker was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing Two bases. while going 2-for-3. That's the most hits he has posted since back in February. Jace Girodo was another key player, scoring three runs while going 2-for-2.
Clements kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Rogers had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 5 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Tuesday. They walked away with a 6-1 victory over the Trojans. While the Pirates didn't have the best season last year (they finished 7-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Ty Caperton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on four hits. What's more, he gave up only one walk, the fewest he's had since back in March of 2024.
At the plate, Curtis Campbell and Bo Mitchell did most of the damage at the plate: Campbell scored two runs and stole Four bases. while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances, while Mitchell went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, one double, and one RBI. Campbell has become a key player for Rogers: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 4-6 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Easton Bradley, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Clements is on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six games. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-5 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. Rogers' win bumped their record up to 8-6.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Clements has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .434. However, it's not like Rogers struggles in that department as they've averaged .438. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
