The Stratford Academy Eagles are taking a road trip to challenge the Brentwood War Eagles at 6:05 p.m. on Friday.
On Thursday, Stratford Academy didn't have quite enough to beat Westfield School and fell 6-5.
Stratford Academy got a good showing from Cole Sasser, who pitched 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off four hits.
On the hitting side, Brayden Fritz made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with three RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in February of 2024. Jett Johnston was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Brentwood, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They were the clear victor by an 11-0 margin over Thomas Jefferson Academy on Monday. The War Eagles haven't had any issues with the Jaguars recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.
Ethan Daniel made a big impact no matter where he played. He didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over four innings pitched. Daniel was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cooper Smith, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. Another player making a difference was Grady Boutelle, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
Brentwood always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .538. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Brentwood's victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 3-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for Stratford Academy, they now have a losing record of 1-2.
Friday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Stratford Academy has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. However, it's not like Brentwood struggles in that department as they've averaged .469. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Stratford Academy took their win against Brentwood in their previous meeting back in March of 2024 by a conclusive 12-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for Stratford Academy since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
