The Eustis Panthers will take on the Vanguard Knights at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Eustis is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They came out on top against Weeki Wachee by a score of 5-1.
Braeden Barnes
| 04/24/26 vs Weeki Wachee | 15 |
| 04/09/26 vs Tavares | 14 |
| 03/12/26 vs Weeki Wachee | 14 |
| 02/20/26 @ South Lake | 14 |
| 03/06/26 vs Mount Dora | 10 |
| + 7 more games |
Braeden Barnes made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 15 over seven innings pitched. He has become a key player for Eustis: the team is 5-1 when he posts at least eight strikeouts, but 10-11 otherwise. Barnes was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run.
In other batting news, Jabriel Rivera Caraballo and Parker Yero did most of the damage at the plate: Rivera Caraballo went 1-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one double, while Yero went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Peyton Woodward, who went 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Vanguard waltzed into their game on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They walked away with a 5-2 victory over the Wildcats.
Spencer Payne spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned runs on three hits and racked up 15 Ks. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Vanguard's win was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was JJ Thomas, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base. Thomas has been hot recently, having posted at least one stolen base the last three times he's played.
Vanguard's victory bumped their record up to 18-7. As for Eustis, their win bumped their record up to 15-12.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Eustis has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Vanguard struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.6 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
