Hancock hasn't had much luck against Fort Hill recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Panthers will head out on the road to challenge the Sentinels at 4:30 p.m. Hancock has given up an average of 9.7 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Hancock lost 12-1 to Berkeley Springs on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Fort Hill, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Thursday. They never let Petersburg get on the board and left with an 11-0 victory on Monday. With that win, the Sentinels brought their scoring average up to 7 runs per game.
Bobby Brauer made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out ten over five innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Carson Bender was a standout: he went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Coye Resh, who went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three RBI, and one run.
Fort Hill always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Fort Hill's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 4-1-1. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.8 runs over those games. As for Hancock, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-6.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hancock has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Fort Hill struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Hancock suffered a grim 12-2 defeat to Fort Hill when the teams last played back in April of 2025. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
