Bryan is 0-7 against Millard South since March of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Bears will square off against the Patriots at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Bryan gave up the first runs on Wednesday, but they didn't let that get them down. They were the clear victors by a 14-8 margin over Buena Vista. The Bears might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five contests by six runs or more this season.
Turner Marlowe made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out six batters over 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-4.
Bryce Urban
| 04/12/25 vs Benson | 3 |
| 04/08/25 vs Benson | 3 |
| 04/16/25 @ Buena Vista | 2 |
| 04/10/25 @ Omaha Northwest | 2 |
| 04/05/25 @ Buena Vista | 2 |
| + 5 more games |
In other batting news, Bryce Urban was a standout: he scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. He has become a key player for Bryan: the team is 4-2 when he posts at least two runs, but 1-8 otherwise. Karol Hernandez also deserves some recognition as he launched his first home run of the season.
Bryan kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 4.8 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 games they've averaged 9.2.
Meanwhile, Millard South faced Millard West in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Tuesday. The Patriots came out on top against the Wildcats by a score of 8-4. The win was nothing new for the Patriots as they're now sitting on three straight.
Noah Haakinson looked comfortable as he struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and only one walk). That's the most strikeouts he has posted over his last four matchups.
At the plate, Millard South let Brady Perich and Blake McAndrews run wild. Perich scored two runs while going 4-for-5, while McAndrews went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, one triple, and one run. Those four hits gave Perich a new career-high. Braden Swaney was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Millard South's victory was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 14-3. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.5 runs over those games. As for Bryan, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 5-10.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bryan has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .443. However, it's not like Millard South struggles in that department as they've averaged .454. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bryan suffered a grim 32-4 defeat to Millard South in their previous matchup back in March of 2019. Can the Bears avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
