The Newcastle Racers are taking a road trip to take on the Elgin Owls at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both teams are still undefeated (Newcastle has seven wins , while Elgin has eight dating back to last season).
Newcastle barely beat Bethany the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. Newcastle blew past Bethany 12-2 on Thursday. The Racers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five games by eight runs or more this season.
Ryder Gibson
| 03/20/25 @ Bethany | 5 |
| 03/06/25 @ Owasso | 0 |
| 04/22/24 @ Lone Grove | 2 |
| 04/09/24 vs Sulphur | 8 |
Ryder Gibson made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, he posted five strikeouts, the most he's had since back in April of 2024. He was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 1-for-2. That run marked the first that he scored this season.
In other batting news, Sheamus McLaughlin was incredible, scoring a run while going 3-for-3. He also hit a double, marking his first of the season. Lane Seaton was another key player, scoring two runs while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances.
Newcastle was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .571. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Elgin's hitters rose to the challenge against a Cardinals pitching crew that boasted an average of only 3.33 runs allowed on Thursday. Elgin put the hurt on Collinsville with a sharp 12-5 victory. The result was nothing new for the Owls, who have now won seven contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
The team relied heavily on Ritson Meyer, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and two doubles. The team also got some help courtesy of Mason Thornton, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Newcastle pushed their record up to 7-0 with the win, which was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 8.4 runs. As for Elgin, their record now sits at 8-0.
Friday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Newcastle hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .430. However, it's not like Elgin struggles in that department as they've averaged .496. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Newcastle took their victory against Elgin when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 11-3. The rematch might be a little tougher for Newcastle since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
