For the second straight game, Hickory Flat will face off against Biggersville. The Rebels will be playing at home against the Lions at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Hickory Flat has given up an average of 12.7 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Hickory Flat heads in on the heels of a playoff game on Friday. They came up short against Biggersville, falling 12-2. The Rebels haven't had much luck with the Lions recently, as the team has come up short the last eight times they've met.
For Biggersville's part, Carsen Price made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out eight over five innings pitched. Price has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Biggersville's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 9-1 (and 7-8 when he doesn't).
In other batting news, Jaden Clifton and Braden Hill did most of the damage at the plate: Clifton went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs, while Hill went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run and three RBI. Biggersville is 9-1 when Clifton posts two or more runs, but 7-8 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Dillon Johnson, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
Biggersville always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .533. They are a perfect 9-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Biggersville pushed their record up to 16-9 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Hickory Flat, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-16.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hickory Flat has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Biggersville struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.