Kasson-Mantorville is 2-8 against Pine Island since April of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Komets will host the Panthers at 5:00 p.m.
Kasson-Mantorville is headed into Thursday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Tuesday. They came up short against Lourdes, falling 9-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Komets have suffered since April 11, 2024.
Kasson-Mantorville saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Owen Nelson, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. That hit marked the first that Nelson got this season. Another was Brooks Irish, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Pine Island had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.6 runs) and they went ahead and made it six on Monday. They walked away with a 7-3 victory over the Komets.
Alex Knox spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered three earned runs on four hits and racked up six Ks.
On the hitting side, Ben Grabau was a standout: he went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Luke Sems was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-2.
Pine Island's win was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 6-1. As for Kasson-Mantorville, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Kasson-Mantorville has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Pine Island struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Kasson-Mantorville came up short against Pine Island when the teams last played on Monday, falling 7-3. Will the Komets have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
