The North Johnston Panthers will square off against the Wilson Prep Tigers at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Wilson Prep took a loss in their last contest and will be looking to turn the tables on North Johnston, who comes in off a win.
North Johnston will roll into the game after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Tuesday, then bounced right back against Spring Creek on Thursday. The Panthers' pitcher stepped up to hand the Gators an 11-0 shutout. The win continues a trend for the Panthers in their matchups with the Gators: they've now won nine in a row.
Daniel Turner made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out six over six innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two hits in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Cooper Hall
| 04/03/25 @ Spring Creek | 3 |
| 03/27/25 @ Eastern Wayne | 2 |
| 04/18/24 @ Spring Creek | 2 |
| 04/08/24 @ Beddingfield | 2 |
| 03/12/24 vs Neuse Charter | 2 |
In other batting news, North Johnston got a massive performance out of Cooper Hall, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-3. Those three hits gave Hall a new career-high. Tyler Coates was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Wilson Prep fell victim to Bear Grass Charter and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They lost 12-0 to the Bears. The Tigers have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
North Johnston pushed their record up to 9-4 with the victory, which was their fifth straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 18.8 runs over those games. As for Wilson Prep, their loss dropped their record down to 5-3.
Friday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. North Johnston hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .335. However, it's not like Wilson Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .319. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went North Johnston's way against Wilson Prep in their previous matchup back in March of 2024, as North Johnston made off with a 7-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
