The Athens Red Hawks will venture away from home to square off against the Lamphere Rams at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Athens is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
Lamphere will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Athens extended their winning streak to three on Tuesday. The Red Hawks were the clear victors by a 27-0 margin over University Liggett. The Red Hawks' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Derek Smith and Macklin Ciurla made a splash no matter where they played. Throwing, Smith pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Ciurla tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Smith has become a key player for Athens: the team is undefeated when he allows at most two hits, but 4-11 otherwise. At bat, Smith went 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI, while Ciurla went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. That's the most runs Smith has posted since back in April.
Ty Manning
| 05/27/25 @ University Liggett | 2 |
| 05/19/25 vs Avondale | 2 |
| 04/01/25 @ Lamphere | 2 |
| 04/26/25 @ Dow | 1 |
| 04/21/25 vs Clarkston | 1 |
In other batting news, Athens got a massive performance out of Ty Manning, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with four runs, two stolen bases, and three RBI. Manning is becoming a predictor of the Red Hawks' success: when he posts at least two stolen bases the team is undefeated (and 4-11 when he doesn't). Grayson Conrad was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, two runs, and one triple.
Athens always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .650. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in four consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Lamphere didn't have quite enough to beat L'Anse Creuse North on Tuesday and fell 7-6. The loss continues a trend for the Rams in their meetings with the Crusaders: they've now lost four in a row.
Aidan Grzsikowski put in work while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up a single earned run in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-6 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
Grzsikowski wasn't the only one making solid contact as six players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Cormick Whalen, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base.
Lamphere's defeat dropped their record down to 19-9. As for Athens, their record is now 7-11.
Everything went Athens' way against Lamphere in their previous meeting back in April, as Athens made off with a 16-4 victory. Do the Red Hawks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Rams turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
