Chaparral is 1-9 against Cheney since April of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Roadrunners will square off against the Cardinals at 4:00 p.m. Chaparral is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
Chaparral will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Monday, then bounced right back against Skyline on Monday. The Roadrunners blew past the Thunderbirds 13-4. Considering the Roadrunners' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Kale Greve was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he tossed 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in strikeouts (three). He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, Ty Hadsall and Carter Hostetler did most of the damage at the plate: Hadsall scored two runs and stole four bases while going 2-for-5, while Hostetler scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in three of his five plate appearances. Those stolen bases were Hadsall's first of the season. Daxton Hostetler was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, after a string of nine wins, Cheney's good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They fell just short of Council Grove by a score of 12-11.
Like Chaparral, Cheney also got a great game from a two-way player: Josh Burdick. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Burdick has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Cameron Eastman was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-4 with two triples, one stolen base, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Gracen Radell, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Cheney's loss dropped their record down to 9-3. As for Chaparral, their record is now 3-1-1.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Chaparral has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .432. However, it's not like Cheney struggles in that department as they've averaged .456. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Chaparral might still be hurting after the 14-4 defeat they got from Cheney in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Roadrunners avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
