The Raymond Central Mustangs will venture away from home to face off against the Arlington Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Raymond Central is coming into the matchup on a six-game losing streak.
Raymond Central lost 15-3 to Platte Valley on Thursday.
Raymond Central saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Hunter Sykes, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, after low-scoring totals in their previous three contests, Arlington brought some dynamite into their most recent game. They put the hurt on Buena Vista with a sharp 14-4 victory on Saturday. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won four contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
Wes Monke made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out 12 batters over 5.2 innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Those 12 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 1-for-5. Those stolen bases marked the first that he snagged this season.
In other batting news, Tim Halley was a standout: he got on base in four of his five plate appearances with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. What's more, he posted two hits, the most he's had since back in April of 2024. Peyton Marfisi was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of his five plate appearances.
Arlington kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Raymond Central's defeat dropped their record down to 1-8. As for Arlington, their win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 5-5.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Raymond Central has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Arlington struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.9 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Raymond Central took their victory against Arlington in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 14-4 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Mustangs since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
