The Garner Trojans will venture away from home to square off against the D.H. Conley Vikings at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Garner is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.7 runs per game this season.
Garner came out on top against Smithfield-Selma on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive eight-run fifth inning. The Trojans never let the Spartans get on the board and left with a 13-0 win. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Trojans.
Jacori Covington
| 02/25/26 @ Rolesville | 3 |
| 03/13/26 @ Smithfield-Selma | 2 |
| 03/10/26 vs Smithfield-Selma | 2 |
| 03/03/26 vs Middle Creek | 1 |
| 03/02/26 @ Broughton | 1 |
Jacori Covington was incredible, going 1-for-2 with one home run, two stolen bases, and two runs. Garner is undefeated when Covington posts two or more runs, but 1-2 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Kasey Perry, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two RBI and one run.
Garner always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .528. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, D.H. Conley faced Cardinal Gibbons in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Saturday. The Vikings fell just short of the Crusaders by a score of 6-5. The loss was the Vikings' first of the season.
D.H. Conley handed starting duties to Conner Berry, who gave a strong showing despite the result: he pitched two innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. Berry has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit any time he's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Hunter Layton made the most of his time in the batter's box despite the final result and went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Garner's victory bumped their record up to 4-2. As for D.H. Conley, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 5-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Garner has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like D.H. Conley struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 11.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Garner came out on top in a nail-biter against D.H. Conley when the teams last played back in May of 2022, sneaking past 4-3. Will the Trojans repeat their success, or do the Vikings have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
