The Apex Cougars will challenge the Willow Spring Storm at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Apex is coming into the contest on a three-game losing streak.
Apex came into this matchup off a tough ten-run loss on Friday. This time they kept things ultra-competitive, but unfortunately the final result was the same. They fell just short of Garner by a score of 7-5 on Monday.
Apex saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was AUSTIN TACK, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Another was BALIAN PENA, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, Willow Spring never let their opponents score on Friday. They had just enough and edged out Green Level 2-0.
Alex Smith got the start for Willow Spring and what a start it was: he didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. Smith also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because the Storm are 3-1 when he allows at most two earned runs, but 2-4 otherwise. Chadburn Turner picked up the save, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Colby Harbin, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Nate Rice also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Willow Spring's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 5-5. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Apex, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Apex has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Willow Spring struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Apex couldn't quite get it done against Willow Spring when the teams last played back in March of 2025 as they fell 5-1. Can the Cougars avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
