Faith Christian Academy hasn't had much luck against Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. Faith Christian Academy will face off against Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Faith Christian Academy was handed a 17-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Thursday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-5 victory over Timberlake Christian. The win was a breath of fresh air for Faith Christian Academy as it put an end to their five-game losing streak.
| 03/07/25 @ Timberlake Christian | 3 |
| 04/08/25 @ Westover Christian Academy | 2 |
| 03/28/25 vs Temple Christian | 1 |
| 03/14/25 @ Roanoke Valley Christian | 1 |
Aaron Keesee and Andrew Ploetner were major factors no matter where they played. Throwing, Keesee didn't allow a single earned run while striking out ten over five innings pitched. Meanwhile, Ploetner pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He also tossed no walks, which is notable because Faith Christian Academy is 2-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 1-6 otherwise. At the plate, Keesee got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run, while Ploetner went 1-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Owen Parker, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with five stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Patrick Ploetner also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.
Meanwhile, Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 15.5 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 17-1 margin over the EAGLES. The Ospreys might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by seven runs or more this season.
Like Faith Christian Academy, Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy also got a great game from a two-way player: Peyton Conley. On the mound, he struck out 13 batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). Conley has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two hits in six consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those two doubles gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Brodie Edwards was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI. He continues to improve, besting his previous run total in each of the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Ryan Canipe, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI, and one double.
Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 20 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in four consecutive matchups.
The victory was their first at home , bumping their record up to 3-7. As for Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy, their record now sits at 10-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Faith Christian Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Faith Christian Academy suffered a grim 14-0 defeat to Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can Faith Christian Academy avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
