The Normandy Invaders will challenge the Olmsted Falls Bulldogs at 5:15 p.m. on Monday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
While Normandy's win against Elyria wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Invaders had just enough and edged out the Pioneers 16-15 on Friday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Invaders have posted since May 16, 2025.
Cullen Rooney
| 05/15/26 vs Elyria | 2 |
| 05/04/26 @ North Olmsted | 0 |
| 04/25/26 @ Elyria | 2 |
Cullen Rooney was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, he posted two strikeouts, the most he's had over his last three matchups. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his five plate appearances with two RBI and one run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Nick Hinkle, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two runs, one triple, and two RBI. He has become a key player for Normandy: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 6-10 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Evan Lucas, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Olmsted Falls ultimately got the result they hoped for on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Vermilion 3-1.
Brayden Cooney spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on seven hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Liam Murray was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base and one run. Ryan Kessen was another key player, going 1-for-5 with one triple and two RBI.
The victory made it two in a row for Normandy and bumps their season record up to 9-10. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 18.5 runs over those games. As for Olmsted Falls, their victory bumped their record up to 11-12.
Olmsted Falls' pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Normandy hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .314. It's a different story for Olmsted Falls, though, as they've only averaged .246. Will they be able to contain Normandy's hitters? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
