Hancock has not done well against Fort Hill recently (they were 0-4 in their previous four matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. The Hancock Panthers had just enough and edged the Fort Hill Sentinels out 6-5. This was a revenge game for Hancock, as the team was forced to settle for a 10-0 loss when these two played last Monday.
Blaire Ray made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out seven batters over 6.1 innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits. Ray has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't pitched less than five innings in three consecutive pitching appearances. Ray was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Ray wasn't the only one making solid contact as seven players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Shawn Thomas, who scored a run while going 1-for-4. Another player making a difference was Brooks Norris, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
On Fort Hill's side, Peyton Blocher was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring a run while going 1-for-2. Jake Rice was another key contributor, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Hancock's victory bumped their record up to 3-8. As for Fort Hill, they have not been sharp recently as the team has lost three of their last four matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-7 record this season.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Hancock will take on Forbes Road at 4:45 p.m. on Friday. As for Fort Hill, they will play host again on Friday to welcome Allegany, where first pitch is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Allegany's pitching crew has only allowed 2.9 runs per game this season, so Fort Hill's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
