vs
| 04/18/24 - Away | 9-14 L |
| 03/24/23 - Home | 4-2 W |
| 02/24/23 - Away | 1-2 L |
| 03/24/22 - Away | 1-11 L |
| 04/28/21 - Away | 9-10 L |
| + 5 more games |
Thatcher and Safford are an even 5-5 against one another since March of 2018, but likely not for long. The Eagles will be playing at home against the Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Thatcher will be strutting in after a victory while Safford will be coming in after a loss.
It was a Battle of the Birds when Thatcher challenged Empire on Wednesday. The Eagles came out on top against the Ravens by a score of 7-2. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Eagles.
Paxton Echols made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. Echols was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Brant Duncan, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March. Jett Howard was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one triple and two RBI.
Thatcher was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .417. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Empire only posted a batting average of .136.
Meanwhile, Safford scored first but ultimately less than Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in their match on Wednesday. They came up short against the Lions, falling 12-6. The Bulldogs have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Carlos Arbizo was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs. Safford is 8-2 when Arbizo posts two or more runs, but 2-7 otherwise.
Safford's defeat dropped their record down to 10-9. As for Thatcher, their win bumped their record up to 8-12.
Safford's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Thatcher hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .324. It's a different story for Safford, though, as they've only averaged .238. Will they be able to contain Thatcher's hitters?
Thatcher couldn't quite get it done against Safford in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 as they fell 14-9. Will the Eagles have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
