The Holgate Tigers will challenge the Hilltop Cadets at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Tuesday, Holgate beat Pettisville 9-4. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Tigers.
EVAN CRUMRINE made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. CRUMRINE was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
In other batting news, Vincent Peck was incredible, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and one stolen base. What's more, he posted two RBI, the most he's had since back in May of 2025. Holden Hartman was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Holgate hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Pettisville struck out 12 times.
Hilltop came out on top against Gorham Fayette on Tuesday thanks in part to the team's impressive seven-run fourth inning. The Cadets put the hurt on the Eagles with a sharp 12-1 victory. The win continues a trend for the Cadets in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now won eight in a row.
Like Holgate, Hilltop also got a great game from a two-way player: Ezra Mahlman. On the mound, he pitched three innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. Mahlman has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Brennan Dempsey and Alejandro Rubalcava did most of the damage at the plate: Dempsey went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, while Rubalcava went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Another player making a difference was Camryn Nichols, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
The victory got Holgate back to even at 4-4. As for Hilltop, their win bumped their record up to 8-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Holgate has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Hilltop struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
