The North Pike Jaguars will challenge the South Jones Braves at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
It was a proper cat-fight when North Pike faced off against Bogue Chitto on Saturday. The Jaguars were the clear victors by a 15-4 margin over the Bobcats. Winning may never get old, but the Jaguars sure are getting used to it with their fifth in a row.
The team relied heavily on Ty Jones, who went 3-for-5 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three RBI. Dominic Smith was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
Jones wasn't the only one making solid contact: North Pike kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That's a new trend for the Jaguars: they were averaging 5.4 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matches they've averaged 10.2.
Meanwhile, South Jones made easy work of Brookhaven on Friday and carried off a 14-2 victory. The win continues a trend for the Braves in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won eight in a row.
Micah Coutta tossed a big game, striking out seven batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. That's the most strikeouts he has posted since back in February.
On the hitting side, Dylan Causey was incredible, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with one home run, six RBI, and two stolen bases. What's more, he posted two runs, the most he's had since back in March. Another player making a difference was Cambridge McDaniel, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
North Pike's victory was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 19-6. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.6 runs on average over those games. As for South Jones, their victory bumped their record up to 15-6.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. North Pike has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .445. However, it's not like South Jones struggles in that department as they've averaged .458. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
North Pike skirted past South Jones 8-6 in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Do the Jaguars have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Braves turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
