The Freedom Patriots will challenge the Ocoee Knights at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Freedom is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Everything went their way against Gateway on Tuesday as they made off with a 13-3 victory. The win continues a trend for the Patriots in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won four in a row.
Blake Echols made a big impact no matter where he played. He struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits (and not a single walk). Echols was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI. That RBI was his first of the season.
In other pitching news, John Vacalopoulos looked comfortable as he tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits.
Joel Santiago
| 02/17/26 @ Gateway | 4 |
| 04/08/25 vs Colonial | 3 |
| 03/10/25 vs Cheshire Academy | 2 |
| 02/13/25 @ Cypress Creek | 2 |
| 02/13/26 vs Innovation | 1 |
Back at the plate, Joel Santiago and Anthony Unruh did most of the damage at the plate: Santiago got on base in all five of his plate appearances with three stolen bases and four runs, while Unruh went 2-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. Those four runs gave Santiago a new career-high. Nolan Kliegl was another key player, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Freedom kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Gateway only managed five.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Ocoee, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. They walked away with a 9-4 victory over University on Friday.
Peyton Neeley made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits. Neeley was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double.
In other pitching news, Bobby Judd looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits.
Back at the plate, the team relied heavily on Jaden Brown, who went 1-for-4 with three runs and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Aiden Mojica, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Ocoee now has a winning record of 2-1. As for Freedom, the win got them back to even at 2-2.
Freedom's speedy runners might be the difference in Wednesday's matchup. The Patriots have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Ocoee, though, as they've been averaging only 0.7 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Freedom continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Freedom's way against Ocoee in their previous matchup back in February of 2025, as Freedom made off with a 9-2 victory. Do the Patriots have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Knights turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
