Baseball Game Preview: Pine Forest Trojans vs. Orange Panthers

The Pine Forest Trojans will head out to square off against the Orange Panthers at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Pine Forest knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past three matchups -- so hopefully Orange likes a good challenge.

Pine Forest is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Everything went their way against E.E. Smith on Friday as Pine Forest made off with a 20-4 win. The result was nothing new for the Trojans, who have now won seven games by seven runs or more so far this season.

Landen Thompson

Runs Batted In (Career)

03/28/25 @ E.E. Smith	8
04/29/24 vs Overhills	2
04/17/24 vs E.E. Smith	2
03/19/24 vs Harnett Central	2
03/25/25 vs E.E. Smith	1

Ja'Lynn Thomas and Landen Thompson did most of the damage at the plate: Thomas scored five runs and stole a base while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances, while Thompson got on base in all five of his plate appearances with one home run, eight RBI, and two runs. Those eight RBI gave Thompson a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Ryan Temple, who scored four runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances.

Pine Forest always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .682. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Orange has relied on a stalwart pitchers averaging 4.08 runs allowed per game, but that average took a hit on Friday. They came up short against Person, falling 11-1. Panthers fans who chose to attend the game sure picked the wrong one: it was the first time the team's lost against the Rockets since on Friday.

Pine Forest has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-3 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.0 runs on average over those games. Orange's loss ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 7-5.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pine Forest has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Orange struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 11.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.