Clark Montessori hasn't had much luck against Reading recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Cougars will look to defend their home field against the Blue Devils at 5:00 p.m. The two teams are strolling into their games after big wins in their previous games.
Clark Montessori headed into their last contest having not scored more than two runs for three straight, but Mt. Healthy let them put that streak behind them. The Cougars blew past the Fighting Owls 12-1 on Wednesday. The result was nothing new for the Cougars, who have now won eight matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Ethan Ernst
| 04/19/25 vs Taylor | 5 |
| 05/08/25 @ New Miami | 2 |
Ethan Ernst was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 14 over six innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Clark Montessori is undefeated when he allows at most one earned run, but 7-11 otherwise. Ernst was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
In other batting news, Jaxon Wilkerson and Andrew Vollner did most of the damage at the plate: Wilkerson went 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double, while Vollner went a perfect 1-for-1 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run. Wilkerson is becoming a predictor of Clark Montessori's success: when he posts at least three RBI the team is undefeated (and 9-11 when he doesn't). Another player making a difference was Cian Wright, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Reading never got on the board in their matchup on Thursday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Finneytown last Friday. They put the hurt on the Wildcats with a sharp 13-3 victory. Considering the Blue Devils' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Like Clark Montessori, Reading also got a great game from a two-way player: Connor Davis. He struck out 13 batters over six innings while giving up just two earned runs off one hit. Those 13 strikeouts gave Davis a new career-high. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and one run.
In other batting news, Charlie Hess was incredible, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with three runs, three doubles, and two RBI. That's the most runs he has posted over his last ten games. Carter Reed was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Reading always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .537. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Finneytown only posted an OBP of .344.
Clark Montessori moved to 12-11 with that win, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Reading, their victory bumped their record up to 12-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Clark Montessori has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Reading struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Clark Montessori suffered a grim 12-6 defeat to Reading in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Cougars have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
