Vanguard has gone 8-2 against Leesburg recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. Vanguard is taking a road trip to face off against Leesburg at 7:00 p.m. Vanguard will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
Vanguard made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Gainesville, but they still couldn't quite topple them. Vanguard was the clear victor by a 14-4 margin over Gainesville on Tuesday. Considering the Knights have won seven matches by more than five runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Spencer Payne
| 03/18/25 @ Gainesville | 3 |
| 03/17/25 vs Matanzas | 2 |
| 03/10/25 vs Crystal River | 2 |
| 03/07/25 @ Forest | 2 |
| 03/13/25 vs Belleview | 1 |
Spencer Payne was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, he gave up only zero earned runs, the fewest he's had since back in February. He was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. Those three runs gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Clayton ?CT? Antonucci was a standout: he scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Gavin Aiton was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Leesburg had to endure a five-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They came out on top in a nail-biter against First Academy on Friday, sneaking past 8-6. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Yellow Jackets have posted since February 27, 2024.
Noah Nepburn was excellent, scoring two runs while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. David Martinis also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.
Vanguard's record now sits at 12-3. As for Leesburg, their record is now 2-10.
Vanguard's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. Vanguard has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Leesburg, though, as they've been averaging only 0.6 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Vanguard continue to outrun the ball?
Vanguard skirted past Leesburg 3-1 when the teams last played back in February. The rematch might be a little tougher for Vanguard since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
