New Brockton is 0-3 against Houston Academy since May of 2016 but things could change on Friday. The New Brockton Gamecocks will welcome the Houston Academy Raiders at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
New Brockton's pitching crew heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. Everything went their way against Bullock County as New Brockton made off with an 18-0 victory.
Clark Moran looked comfortable as he struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit.
On the hitting side, Bryant Crumpler was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 2-for-2. The dominant performance gave him a new career-high in stolen bases. Another player making a difference was Hayden Pope, who scored two runs and stole three bases while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Houston Academy ultimately got the result they hoped for on Thursday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Providence Christian, sneaking past 5-4.
Whit Price made a splash no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched six innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits. Price was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Soles Faulk, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Trey Bradley was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
The win got Houston Academy back to even at 2-2. As for New Brockton, they now have a winning record of 2-1.
New Brockton's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's contest. New Brockton has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 9.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Houston Academy, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will New Brockton continue to outrun the ball?
New Brockton might still be hurting after the 19-3 defeat they got from Houston Academy in their previous matchup back in February of 2023. Can New Brockton avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
