Claiborne hasn't had much luck against Grainger recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Bulldogs will look to defend their home field against the Grizzlies at 6:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Claiborne's pitching crew heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over Cordia. The Bulldogs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six games by ten runs or more this season.
Emery Keiter
| 04/04/25 vs Cordia | 7 |
| 03/28/25 @ Campbell County | 2 |
| 03/18/25 vs Cherokee | 1 |
| 03/13/25 @ Cumberland Gap | 7 |
Emery Keiter made a splash no matter where he played. He didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over four innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts he has posted since back in March. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing three bases while going 1-for-2. Claiborne is 5-2 when Keiter posts two or more stolen bases, but 4-6 otherwise.
In other batting news, Claiborne got a big performance out of Garrett Keiter, who scored two runs and stole three bases while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances. Keiter is becoming a predictor of the Bulldogs' success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 6-2 (and 3-6 when he doesn't). Another player making a difference was Hunter Greer, who scored two runs and stole three bases while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances.
Claiborne always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .680. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Grainger beat Unicoi County 13-9 on Saturday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Grizzlies.
Nolan Wallace was a standout: he scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3. He also hit a triple, marking his first of the season. Luke Wallace was another key player, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and one run.
Grainger's win bumped their record up to 7-11. As for Claiborne, they now have a winning record of 9-8.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Claiborne has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .454. However, it's not like Grainger struggles in that department as they've averaged .463. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Claiborne might still be hurting after the 9-1 loss they got from Grainger in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Bulldogs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
