Monterey and Stone Memorial are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2018, but likely not for long. The Monterey Wildcats will be playing in front of their home fans against the Stone Memorial Panthers at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Monterey will be hoping to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each contest than the last.
Monterey scored the most runs they've had all season to find success on Monday. They blew past Jackson County 13-2. With that victory, Monterey brought their scoring average up to 6.5 runs per game.
Dawson Hedgecough was a major factor no matter where he played. He struck out seven batters over 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Hedgecough was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.
In other batting news, Monterey let Brayden Reams and Evan Robinson loose on the outfield. Reams scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2, while Robinson went 2-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and a stolen base. Robinson has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last three times he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Jake Rachford, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Stone Memorial fell victim to a rough 7-1 defeat at the hands of Gordonsville on Monday. Stone Memorial has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Like Monterey, Stone Memorial also got a great game from a two-way player: Nick Osmun. On the mound, he struck out ten batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off three hits. Osmun was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases and a double.
Osmun wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Talyn Hurd, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Monterey's win bumped their record up to 7-4. As for Stone Memorial, their loss dropped their record down to 6-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both teams have some strikeout artists on the roster. Monterey has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Stone Memorial struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.6. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Monterey skirted past Stone Memorial 3-2 in their previous matchup on Thursday. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Stone Memorial's Titus Bisbee, who didn't allow a single earned run and only two hits over seven innings pitched. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Monterey still be able to contain Bisbee? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
