The Mercer Mustangs will venture away from home to challenge the West Middlesex Big Reds at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Mercer is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
While Mercer's win against Reynolds wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Mustangs had just enough and edged out the Raiders 4-3. The Mustangs haven't had any issues with the Raiders recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive victory against them.
Aedan Ryhal
| 04/01/25 @ Greenville | 6 |
| 03/27/25 @ Karns City | 4 |
| 04/07/25 vs Wilmington | 3 |
| 03/25/25 @ Grove City | 2 |
| 03/21/25 @ Mohawk Area | 2 |
| + 1 more games |
Aedan Ryhal made a splash while hitting and pitching. He tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He is becoming a predictor of Mercer's success: when he allows at most three hits the team is 4-1 (and 1-2 when he doesn't). Ryhal was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played.
Meanwhile, West Middlesex hadn't done well against Sharpsville recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Monday. The Big Reds were the clear victors by an 11-5 margin over the Blue Devils. The Big Reds might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six matches by six runs or more this season.
Like Mercer, West Middlesex also got a great game from a two-way player: Logan Kent. On the mound, he pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits. Kent was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, Roman Golub was excellent, scoring a run while going 2-for-4. Brody Gilmore also deserves some recognition as he scored his first runs of the season.
West Middlesex was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .389. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Sharpsville only posted a batting average of .217.
The win made it two in a row for West Middlesex and bumps their season record up to 7-2. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 5 runs in those games. As for Mercer, their record now sits at 5-3.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Wednesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Mercer has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like West Middlesex struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Mercer couldn't quite finish off West Middlesex when the teams last played back in April of 2024 and fell 5-3. Can the Mustangs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
