The Paulding Panthers are taking a road trip to challenge the Allen East Mustangs at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Paulding took a nine-run loss the last time they faced off against Wauseon, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Panthers came out on top in a nail-biter against the Indians on Saturday, sneaking past 9-8.
Meanwhile, Allen East came tearing into Friday's contest with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 8 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Their pitchers stepped up to hand the Rockets an 11-0 shutout. The Mustangs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 12 games by seven runs or more this season.
Brady Brooks made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Brooks was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs and one stolen base. He has been hot, having posted at least one stolen base the last five times he's played.
In other pitching news, Owen Sneary looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits.
Back at the plate, Jackson Thompson was incredible, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with one home run, two stolen bases, and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Colt Snyder, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI and one double.
Allen East was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .444. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .407 or higher in three consecutive matchups.
Paulding's record now sits at 10-12. As for Allen East, their record is now 17-5.
Paulding might still be hurting after the 13-1 defeat they got from Allen East in their previous meeting back in May of 2025. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.