Centralia took a six-run defeat the last time they faced off against Belleville East, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Orphans had just enough and edged out the Lancers 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Orphans have posted since March 31st.
Rhett Lambert
| 03/26/26 @ Salem | 4 |
| 04/14/26 vs Cahokia | 3 |
| 03/19/26 @ Odin/Patoka/Sandoval | 3 |
| 04/20/26 vs Belleville East | 2 |
| 04/14/26 vs Cahokia | 2 |
| + 5 more games |
Centralia's win was truly a team effort as nine different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Rhett Lambert, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base. Lambert has become a key player for the Orphans: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 1-7 otherwise.
Lambert wasn't the only one making solid contact: Centralia kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in four consecutive games.
Centralia now has a winning record of 8-7. As for Belleville East, they are on a four-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 8-10-1.
Looking ahead, Centralia will square off against Mt. Carmel at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Orphans' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Aces have averaged an impressive 8.1 runs per game this season. As for Belleville East, they are taking a road trip to square off against O'Fallon at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Lancers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Panthers have averaged an impressive 6.6 runs per game this season.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
