Bagdad is a perfect 4-0 against Superior since May of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Bagdad Sultans are packing up and heading out on the road for their first away game this season: they will challenge the Superior Panthers at 3:45 p.m. Both teams are coming into the matchup red-hot, with Bagdad sitting on four straight wins and Superior on three.
Superior's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Friday: Bagdad hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. Bagdad never let Valley Lutheran get on the board and left with a 13-0 victory on Wednesday. Considering the Sultans have won six games by more than seven runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Rowdy Hooper made a splash while hitting and pitching. He struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Hooper was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one triple. That triple marked the first that he hit this season.
Destry Owings
| 03/19/25 vs Valley Lutheran | 2 |
| 03/10/25 vs Antelope | 2 |
| 03/04/25 vs Salome | 3 |
In other batting news, Destry Owings and Dj Gramanz did most of the damage at the plate: Owings scored two runs and stole Two bases. while going 2-for-2, while Gramanz scored two runs and stole Three bases. while going 2-for-2. Owings is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged two or more in each of the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Michael Langston, who scored three runs while going 1-for-2.
Bagdad was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .381. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .381 or higher in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Superior). They were the clear victor by an 11-1 margin over Miami on Tuesday. While the Panthers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Ryland Duarte was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing Two bases. while going 3-for-4. He continues to improve, besting his previous point total in each of the last three games he's played. Christian Hollenbeck was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-3.
Bagdad pushed their record up to 7-1 with the win, which was their fourth straight at home. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 13.5 runs. As for Superior, their record now sits at 5-2.
Bagdad's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's match. Bagdad has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Superior, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Bagdad continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Bagdad's way against Superior in their previous meeting back in May of 2021, as Bagdad made off with a 12-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Bagdad since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
