O'Fallon is 9-1 against Highland since April of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Panthers will face off against the Bulldogs at 2:00 p.m. O'Fallon's pitching crew has only allowed 3.5 runs per game this season, so Highland's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
O'Fallon is probably headed into the game with a chip on their shoulder considering Alton just ended the team's 12-game winning streak on Thursday. They fell just short of the Redbirds by a score of 5-4.
Connor Blue
| 04/17/25 @ Alton | 11 |
| 04/12/25 @ Althoff Catholic | 6 |
| 04/07/25 vs Christian Brothers | 10 |
| 03/28/25 vs Freeburg | 8 |
| 03/22/25 vs Joliet Catholic | 7 |
Connor Blue put in work while hitting and pitching. He struck out 11 batters over five innings while giving up five earned runs off five hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
In other batting news, Dane Hrasky made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. That home run was his first of the season.
Meanwhile, Highland entered their tilt with Jersey on Wednesday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They came out on top against the Panthers by a score of 4-1.
Garrin Stone was incredible, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI. Chase Knebel was another key player, earning one RBI, one run, and one stolen base.
Highland's victory bumped their record up to 6-4. As for O'Fallon, the defeat was their first on the road , dropping their record down to 12-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. O'Fallon has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Highland struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
O'Fallon took their win against Highland in their previous meeting back in March by a conclusive 10-4 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
