The IMG Academy Gray Ascenders will challenge the Inspiration Academy Lions at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are out to turn their luck around after having lost tight contests in their previous games.
IMG Academy Gray blew Barron Collier out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Thursday Barron Collier got their revenge. The Ascenders fell just short of the Cougars by a score of 6-4.
IMG Academy Gray got a good showing from Norm Cherrett, who pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. That's the first time Cherrett hasn't allowed a single hit since back in March.
At the plate, JD Westveld was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3. He also put up a home run, which was his first of the season.
Meanwhile, Inspiration Academy didn't have quite enough to beat Riverview Sarasota on Thursday and fell 7-5.
Max Prejda and Ty Harvey did some serious damage despite the final result: Prejda scored two runs while going 2-for-3, while Harvey went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
IMG Academy Gray's defeat dropped their record down to 14-9. As for Inspiration Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 13-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. IMG Academy Gray has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Inspiration Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
IMG Academy Gray beat Inspiration Academy 5-2 in their previous meeting back in March. Will the Ascenders repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
