The Rickards Raiders will challenge the Sneads Pirates at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The timing isn't great for Rickards: they have been struggling with nine straight losses at home dating back to last season, while Sneads has snatched up five consecutive wins on the road also dating back to last season.
Madison County hit Rickards with a four-run second inning on Monday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Raiders fell just short of the Cowboys by a score of 8-7.
Rickards saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Kai'Raun Strong-Johnson, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base. Another was Trey Jones, who got on base in two of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases and one run.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Sneads). They blew past North Bay Haven Academy 13-6 on Monday. Considering the Pirates have won three matchups by more than six runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
J J Harrell was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in April of 2025.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Conner McSpaddin, who got on base in three of his six plate appearances with four stolen bases and three runs. Creed Whitworth was another key player, earning three RBI, one run, and two stolen bases.
Sneads kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as North Bay Haven Academy only managed six.
Sneads' win bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Rickards, their loss dropped their record down to 1-8.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Rickards has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Sneads struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 5.1 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Rickards came up short against Sneads in their previous meeting back in February, falling 7-2. Will the Raiders have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
