The New Brockton Gamecocks will face off against the Straughn Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
New Brockton will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Monday, then bounced right back against Bullock County on Tuesday. The Gamecocks put the hurt on the Hornets with a sharp 11-1 win. The Gamecocks not only won on Tuesday, but they posted their biggest win since March 1st.
Gavin Hand
Gavin Hand looked comfortable as he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. He also tossed no walks, which is notable because New Brockton is 2-1 when he allows at most two walks, but 7-8 otherwise.
On the hitting side, Bradyn Crumpler was excellent, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3. Those two hits gave him a new career-high. Dalton Rogers was another key player, scoring three runs while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Straughn entered their tilt with Brantley back in March with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over the Bulldogs.
The team relied heavily on Saxby Radford, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Eli Grissett, who scored two runs and stole two bases.
Straughn kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Straughn's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 8-5. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.0 runs over those games. As for New Brockton, the victory got them back to even at 9-9.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. New Brockton has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .457. However, it's not like Straughn struggles in that department as they've averaged .457. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
New Brockton beat Straughn 11-6 in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. Do the Gamecocks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Tigers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
