Spring Creek hasn't had much luck against North Johnston recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Gators will welcome the Panthers at 6:30 p.m. Spring Creek is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.6 runs per game this season.
On Tuesday, Spring Creek needed a bit of extra time to put away Beddingfield. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Bruins, sneaking past 9-8. The victory was some much needed relief for the Gators as it spelled an end to their five-game losing streak.
Braden Bell
| 03/18/25 @ North Johnston | 3 |
| 03/27/25 vs Goldsboro | 2 |
| 03/25/25 @ Princeton | 1 |
Braden Bell and Jayson Hill made a big impact no matter where they played. On the mound, Bell pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Meanwhile, Hill didn't allow a single earned run while striking out ten over 5.2 innings pitched. Bell also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Spring Creek is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 1-4 otherwise. At bat, Bell scored four runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-6, while Hill got on base in four of his six plate appearances with one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact as six players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Camden Jones, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-5. Spring Creek is 3-1 when Jones posts two or more runs, but 0-4 otherwise. Haiden Smith also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 34 runs the game before, North Johnston was a bit more limited in their contest on Tuesday. They fell just short of Princeton by a score of 3-2. The Panthers haven't had much luck with the Bulldogs recently, as the team has come up short the last three times they've met.
Spring Creek's win was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 3-5. As for North Johnston, their defeat was their first in the conference, dropping their conference record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 8-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Spring Creek has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like North Johnston struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Spring Creek suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to North Johnston when the teams last played two weeks ago. Will the Gators have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
