The Roanoke Rapids Yellowjackets will take on the Rocky Mount Gryphons at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams are strolling into their matches after big wins in their previous games.
Rocky Mount will be up against a hot Roanoke Rapids team: the squad just extended their winning streak to three. Everything went Roanoke Rapids' way against Southern Nash on Thursday as Roanoke Rapids made off with a 13-6 win.
Collin Elias made a splash no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Elias was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring two runs while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances.
In other batting news, Blaine Warren was incredible, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Carson Duncan was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, Rocky Mount never let their opponents score on Friday. They blew past Eastern Wayne 17-0. The Gryphons' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Like Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount also got a great game from a two-way player: Christian Buck. On the mound, Buck struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). Meanwhile, Gage Mitchell pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. The dominant performance gave Buck a new career-low in hits. At the plate, Buck went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base, while Mitchell scored a run and stole Three bases. That home run marked the first that Buck launched this season.
In other batting news, Rocky Mount got a massive performance out of Jack McKellar, who scored two runs and stole Three bases. while going 2-for-3. McKellar also hit a double, marking his first of the season. Another player making a difference was James High, who scored two runs while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Rocky Mount always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .657. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .531 or higher in three consecutive games.
Roanoke Rapids' victory bumped their record up to 3-0. As for Rocky Mount, the win got them back to even at 2-2.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Roanoke Rapids has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .445. However, it's not like Rocky Mount struggles in that department as they've averaged .536. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Roanoke Rapids took their victory against Rocky Mount when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 10-2. Will Roanoke Rapids repeat their success, or does Rocky Mount have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
