For the second straight game, Thornton will face off against Rich Township. The Wildcats will be playing at home against the Raptors at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Thornton has given up an average of 9.7 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Thornton lost 15-1 to Rich Township on Wednesday. The Wildcats haven't had much luck with the Raptors recently, as the team has come up short the last eight times they've met.
For Rich Township's part, Maurice Pinkney was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He struck out eight batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and only one walk). That's the most strikeouts Pinkney has posted since back in April. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, four runs, and two RBI. He has become a key player for Rich Township: the team is 6-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 4-11 otherwise.
In other batting news, Jordan Berry and Brandon Bankhead did most of the damage at the plate: Berry went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one stolen base, while Bankhead went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and three runs. Rich Township is undefeated when Bankhead posts two or more stolen bases, but 5-12 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Gio Rivera, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Rich Township always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .514. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Thornton only posted an OBP of .235.
Rich Township has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-12 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for Thornton, they now have a losing record of 9-10-1.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Thornton has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .469. However, it's not like Rich Township struggles in that department as they've averaged .433. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
