The Mount Anthony Patriots will head out to face off against the Fair Haven Slaters at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Mount Anthony is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last eight games.
Last Friday, Mount Anthony was able to grind out a solid victory over Mount Greylock Regional, taking the game 9-5.
Jonathan Crossman was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one home run and two runs. That home run was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Talin Bartholdi, who got on base in three of his five plate appearances with one run and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Mount Anthony kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in five consecutive games.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Fair Haven, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They walked away with an 11-8 win over Middlebury on Wednesday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Slaters considering their one-run performance the contest before.
MASON GUTEL was a major factor no matter where he played. He pitched six innings while giving up just two earned (and six unearned) runs off six hits. GUTEL was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
In other batting news, TANNER BIXBY and BRODY DORAN did most of the damage at the plate: BIXBY went 2-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI, while DORAN went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Those two runs gave BIXBY a new career-high. CODY ADAMS was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Mount Anthony's record is now 11-2. As for Fair Haven, their record now sits at 4-9.
Fair Haven's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Mount Anthony has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .464. It's a different story for Fair Haven, though, as they've only averaged .354. Will they be able to contain Mount Anthony's hitters?
Mount Anthony got the 'W' in their previous meeting back in May of 2025 against Fair Haven by a conclusive 14-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Patriots since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
