Jackson County hasn't had much luck against Smith County recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Blue Devils will square off against the Owls at 4:30 p.m. Jackson County has given up an average of 9 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Jackson County is headed into Monday's matchup looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Friday. They came up short against Cumberland County, falling 19-3.
Bryce Stafford and Hayden Stafford stepped up to the plate in a big way. Bryce went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double, while Hayden went 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double. That double marked the first that Bryce has hit this season.
Meanwhile, Smith County had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 14 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Saturday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Red Hawks 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Owls have posted since March 21st.
Jaden Preston looked comfortable as he tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits.
On the hitting side, Jacob Lapham was excellent, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March. Bennett Gammon was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Smith County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in three consecutive games.
Smith County's record now sits at 16-4. As for Jackson County, their loss dropped their record down to 3-18.
Jackson County might still be hurting after the 17-0 defeat they got from Smith County in their previous matchup back in March. Can the Blue Devils avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
