River Islands is preparing for their first league matchup of the season on Wednesday. They will square off against the Venture Academy Mustangs at 4:00 p.m. Venture Academy took a loss in their last contest and will be looking to turn the tables on River Islands, who comes in off a win.
River Islands will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Monday, then bounced right back against Leroy Greene Academy on Thursday. The Riptide put the hurt on the Lions with a sharp 20-9 win. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Riptide's hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Daryl Carpenter was a standout: he got on base in all five of his plate appearances with three runs, four RBI, and one triple. The team also got some help courtesy of Matthew Echivarre, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple.
River Islands always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .558. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Venture Academy was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight defeat. They lost 10-0 to Marysville. The game marked the first time this season in which the Mustangs were not able to get on the board.
Tanner Gantt was cooking despite his team's loss, going a perfect 2-for-2 with four stolen bases and one double. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last five games he's played.
Venture Academy's loss dropped their record down to 2-6. As for River Islands, they now have a winning record of 6-5.
Wednesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. River Islands has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .476. However, it's not like Venture Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .446. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
River Islands suffered a grim 11-1 defeat to Venture Academy in their previous matchup back in March of 2025. Can the Riptide avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
