Armstrong hasn't had much luck against Franklin Regional recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The River Hawks will head out to square off against the Panthers at 4:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Armstrong was handed a heart-breaking two-run loss in their last match, but they sure didn't let that happen against Valley on Thursday. The River Hawks never let the Vikings get on the board and left with a 7-0 victory.
Not much got past Garrett Brumbaugh, who gave up just six hits to keep Valley off the board.
On the hitting side, Jacob Bowser and Chase Jablonski did most of the damage at the plate: Bowser went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI, while Jablonski went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. Max Zablocki also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Franklin Regional, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Wednesday. Everything went their way against Gateway on Thursday as they made off with a 15-9 win. The Panthers haven't had any issues with the Gators recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Brady Yarabinitz was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Luke Williams was another key player, getting on base in three of his five plate appearances with five stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI.
Franklin Regional always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .587. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Gateway only posted an OBP of .400.
Armstrong's record now sits at 6-7. As for Franklin Regional, their record is now 8-3.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Armstrong hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .348. However, it's not like Franklin Regional struggles in that department as they've averaged .353. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Armstrong couldn't quite get it done against Franklin Regional in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 as they fell 6-2. Can the River Hawks avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
