The Hamilton Lions will face off against the Water Valley Blue Devils on Friday. Hamilton is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.7 runs per game this season.
On Monday, Hamilton got the win against Mantachie by a conclusive 11-1. The win continues a trend for the Lions in their matchups with the Mustangs: they've now won four in a row.
Cody Staten
| 04/13/26 vs Mantachie | 1 |
| 03/09/26 vs Jackson Christian | 1 |
| 02/28/26 vs Northeast Lauderdale | 2 |
| 02/14/26 vs Amory | 2 |
Hamilton got a great performance from Cody Staten as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over 4.1 innings pitched. Staten has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Paxton Dobbs was a standout: he went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. Seth Welch was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases and three runs.
Hamilton always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .577. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mantachie only posted an OBP of .250.
Meanwhile, Water Valley was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They lost 14-3 to Tupelo Christian Prep. That's two games in a row now that the Blue Devils have lost by exactly 11 runs.
Water Valley saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Luke Bynum, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run. Another was Allen Paysinger, who went 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Water Valley's loss dropped their record down to 7-15. As for Hamilton, their victory bumped their record up to 24-4.
Water Valley's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hamilton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .351. It's a different story for Water Valley, though, as they've only averaged .254. Will they be able to contain Hamilton's hitters? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
