For the second straight game, Smyer will face off against Ropes. The Bobcats will be playing at home against the Eagles at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Smyer has given up an average of 12.4 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Smyer is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to ten runs on Friday, they were much more limited against Ropes on Tuesday. They lost 11-1 to the Eagles. That's two games in a row now that the Bobcats have lost by exactly ten runs.
For Ropes' part, Elijah Flores was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Flores has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in six consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs. Those two stolen bases gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Jaivyth Cruz and Maddux Sierra did most of the damage at the plate: Cruz went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base, while Sierra went a perfect 3-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Sierra is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played. Ryland Keith was another key player, getting on base in two of his four plate appearances with three stolen bases and one run.
Ropes always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .621. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Smyer only posted an OBP of .333.
The win was the sixth in a row for Ropes, bringing their record up to 10-3. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.2 runs on average over those games. As for Smyer, their defeat was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 3-7.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Smyer has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Ropes struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.3 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
