Smithfield-Selma is 0-10 against North Johnston since March of 2016 but things could change on Saturday. The Spartans will take on the Panthers at 11:30 a.m. Smithfield-Selma has given up an average of 13.2 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Smithfield-Selma is headed into Saturday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their 32nd straight game dating back to last season on Thursday. They lost 14-0 to Hunt.
Meanwhile, North Johnston had already won four in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 16 runs) and they went ahead and made it five on Thursday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-1 win over the Cougars. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted since March 6th.
Tyler Coates spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on two hits and racked up seven Ks. He has been consistent : he hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Maurice Love, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
North Johnston pushed their record up to 13-4 with the win, which was their third straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.0 runs over those games. As for Smithfield-Selma, their loss dropped their record down to 0-16.
Smithfield-Selma might still be hurting after the 11-1 defeat they got from North Johnston in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Spartans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
