The Union County Patriots will square off against the Centerville Bulldogs at 1:00 p.m. on Monday. Union County is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.9 runs per game this season.
Union County is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Winchester Community 3-2.
Ezra Hensley
| 04/21/26 @ Connersville | 5 |
| 04/07/26 vs Richmond | 5 |
| 05/12/26 @ Greensburg | 4 |
| 05/21/26 @ Centerville | 3 |
| 05/11/26 @ Knightstown | 2 |
| + 4 more games |
Ezra Hensley looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits. He has become a key player for Union County: the team is 7-3 when he allows at most two earned runs, but 6-9 otherwise.
On the hitting side, Union County's win was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Charlie Payne, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, Centerville owes their pitching crew a big pat on the back after their performance on Thursday. They walked away with a 4-0 victory over Shenandoah. The game was the first time the Bulldogs have beaten the Raiders on their field since May 30, 2022.
Shenandoah's batters probably weren't too happy with Jacob Alford, who pitched a no hitter and racked up seven Ks (he gave up a single walk). Alford has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Keith Plyley Jr. was excellent, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played. Coltyn Morris was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one run.
Union County now has a winning record of 13-12. As for Centerville, their record is now 6-11.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Union County has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Centerville struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Union County came out on top in a nail-biter against Centerville when the teams last played last Thursday, sneaking past 5-3. Do the Patriots have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bulldogs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
