Independence has been on the road for two straight, but on Wednesday they'll finally head home. They will take on the Briggs Bruins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Independence knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy run totals in its past four matches -- so hopefully Briggs likes a good challenge.
Independence is hoping to deliver their fans another blowout on Wednesday, just like they did against Walnut Ridge (and have done all season long). Independence's pitcher stepped up to hand Walnut Ridge an 18-0 shutout on Monday.
Anderson Mora was a major factor no matter where he played. He struck out nine batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits (and not a single walk). Mora has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive pitching appearances. Mora was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with a home run, four stolen bases, and three runs.
In other batting news, Independence got a massive performance out of Richard Kearney, who scored three runs and stole five bases while going 2-for-2. Kearney has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last ten times he's played. John Washington was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing four bases while going 2-for-2.
Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Briggs' good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They lost 24-3 to Grove City Christian.
Cameron Griffith made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2. The team also got some help courtesy of Wyatt Martin, who went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and an RBI.
Independence pushed their record up to 11-1 with that win, which was their sixth straight on the road. As for Briggs, their loss dropped their record down to 8-7.
Wednesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Independence has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .644. However, it's not like Briggs struggles in that department as they've averaged .476. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Independence was able to grind out a solid victory over Briggs when the teams last played back in April, winning 5-2. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Briggs' Brailyn Hernandez, who struck out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Independence still be able to contain Hernandez? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
