The Jefferson Dragons are taking a road trip to square off against the Plant Panthers at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Jefferson is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.4 runs per game this season.
Jefferson's pitching crew heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 15-0 margin over Freedom. The Dragons have beaten the Patriots the last four times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Patriots has come to flipping the script.
Bobby Edwards looked comfortable as he tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks any time he's pitched this season.
AJ Cruz
| 03/12/26 @ Freedom | 2 |
| 03/10/26 @ Gaither | 1 |
| 03/07/26 vs Sumner | 1 |
| 02/19/26 vs Chamberlain | 1 |
| 02/12/26 @ Hillsborough | 1 |
On the hitting side, Jefferson got a big performance out of AJ Cruz, who went 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI. Those two RBI gave Cruz a new career-high. Elijah Benton was another key player, going 1-for-2 with three RBI and one run.
Jefferson always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .576. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Freedom only posted an OBP of .333.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Plant ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Osceola 3-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted since April 8, 2025.
KOLT PATTERSON got the start for Plant and what a start it was: he pitched five innings while giving up just two earned runs off one hit. PATTERSON has become a key player for the Panthers: the team is 4-1 when he allows at most one hit, but 4-5 otherwise. JOEL SALINES relieved him and did a solid job, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit.
At the plate, Jordan Olivia was excellent, going 2-for-3 with three runs. Plant is 4-1 when Olivia posts two or more runs, but 4-5 otherwise.
Jefferson's record is now 9-2. As for Plant, their record now sits at 8-6.
Jefferson came out on top in a nail-biter against Plant in their previous matchup last Tuesday, sneaking past 11-9. Do the Dragons have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
