The Greenback Cherokees will head out to square off against the Maryville Christian Eagles at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Greenback's pitching crew has only allowed 3.7 runs per game this season, so Maryville Christian's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Greenback's pitching crew heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They came out on top against Oakdale by a score of 11-0 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game). The Cherokees might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 11 contests by six runs or more this season.
Kolden Williams
| 04/08/25 @ Harriman | 3 |
| 03/22/25 vs Unaka | 3 |
| 03/07/25 vs Tellico Plains | 3 |
| 04/29/25 vs Oakdale | 2 |
| 04/14/25 @ Oakdale | 2 |
| + 8 more games |
Kolden Williams made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out nine over four innings pitched. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one walk in seven consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Greenback's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 4-6 when he doesn't).
In other pitching news, Carter Hankins looked comfortable as he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit in five consecutive appearances.
Williams wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Owen O'Donnell, who went 1-for-2 with two runs and one RBI. Another was Branson Black, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Greenback always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .567. The last time their OBP was this high was back in March.
Victory Christian hit Maryville Christian with a four-run third inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Eagles took an 8-4 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Monks.
Benjamin Paddock was cooking despite his team's loss, going 3-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. Mattox Smith was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Maryville Christian's defeat ended a four-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 17-11. As for Greenback, they are on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four games. That's provided a nice bump to their 14-6 record this season.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Greenback has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .517. However, it's not like Maryville Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .446. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
