Challis has enjoyed a four-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will challenge the Grangeville Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The pair have allowed few runs on average, (Challis: 3.2, Grangeville: 3) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Challis is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They were the clear victor by an 11-5 margin over Cole Valley Christian. The result was nothing new for Challis, who have now won 15 matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Ruger Nicholls made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off eight hits (and only one walk). Nicholls was also big at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two triples, two runs, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Garrison Applegate was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Braxton Gamett, who scored two runs while getting on base in two of his four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Grangeville ultimately got the result they hoped for on Thursday. They had just enough and edged Malad out 8-7. The win made it back-to-back victories for Grangeville.
Like Challis, Grangeville also got a great game from a two-way player: Sam Lindsley. He struck out 13 batters over 5.2 innings while giving up five earned runs off five hits. Lindsley has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in 11 consecutive pitching appearances. Lindsley was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
Lindsley wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Taven Ebert, who scored two runs while going 1-for-5. Kaycen Sickles was another key contributor, going 2-for-5 with a triple.
Challis pushed their record up to 19-2-1 with that victory, which was their 13th straight at home dating back to last season. As for Grangeville, they are on a roll lately: they've won 11 of their last 12 games, which provided a nice bump to their 22-4 record this season.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Challis has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .514. However, it's not like Grangeville struggles in that department as they've averaged .457. 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.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
