Smithfield-Selma hasn't had much luck against Clayton recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Spartans will welcome the Comets at 7:00 p.m. Smithfield-Selma has given up an average of 8 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Smithfield-Selma fell victim to Garner and their airtight pitching crew on Friday. They came up short against the Trojans, falling 13-0. The contest marked the first time this season in which the Spartans were not able to get on the board.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Clayton, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They came out on top against Fuquay-Varina by a score of 6-2 on Friday. The Comets' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Gabe Schellinger got the start for Clayton and what a start it was: he struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. Those ten strikeouts gave Schellinger a new career-high.
On the hitting side, TJ Norton was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four stolen bases, three runs, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Lawson Dew, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
Clayton's win bumped their record up to 2-4. As for Smithfield-Selma, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-3.
Clayton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Smithfield-Selma hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .339. It's a different story for Clayton, though, as they've only averaged .163. Will they be able to contain Smithfield-Selma's hitters?
Smithfield-Selma might still be hurting after the 18-0 loss they got from Clayton in their previous matchup back in April of 2025. Will the Spartans have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
