The IMG Academy Silver Ascenders will challenge the Inspiration Academy Red Lions at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. IMG Academy Silver is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last seven games.
Inspiration Academy Red's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Wednesday: IMG Academy Silver hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. The Ascenders' pitchers stepped up to hand Boca Ciega a 10-0 shutout on Tuesday.
JP Piles
| 04/08/25 vs Boca Ciega | 3 |
| 04/02/25 vs Sports Leadership & Management | 1 |
| 04/01/25 vs Central Pointe Christian Academy | 1 |
| 02/25/25 vs Cambridge Christian | 1 |
| 02/20/25 vs Mulberry | 1 |
IMG Academy Silver let Henry Britt and JP Piles run wild. Britt went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one triple, and one run, while Piles scored two runs and stole three bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Those three stolen bases gave Piles a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jonathan Marzullo, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two RBI.
IMG Academy Silver always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .633. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Inspiration Academy Red). Everything went their way against MVP Baseball Academy on Monday as they made off with a 15-4 victory. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest win of the season.
Gene Huang spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up seven Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Machado Hu was incredible, scoring three runs while going 2-for-3. Jack Arujio was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
IMG Academy Silver pushed their record up to 15-5 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.2 runs on average over those games. As for Inspiration Academy Red, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 5-3.
Inspiration Academy Red's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: IMG Academy Silver hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .328. It's a different story for Inspiration Academy Red, though, as they've only averaged .258. Will they be able to contain IMG Academy Silver's hitters?
IMG Academy Silver beat Inspiration Academy Red 7-4 when the teams last played back in February of 2024. Will the Ascenders repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
