Ponte Vedra has won five straight games at home (dating back to last season), while Bartram Trail has won five straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Tuesday. The Sharks will welcome the Bears at 6:30 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Ponte Vedra 3, Bartram Trail 2.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
On Friday, Ponte Vedra sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 4-2 win over Orange Park. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Sharks have posted against the Raiders since April 15, 2019.
Maddox Tepper made a big impact no matter where he played. He struck out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits (and only one walk). Tepper was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with one stolen base.
Tepper wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Grady Harris, who went 2-for-3 with two runs.
Meanwhile, Bartram Trail hadn't done well against Spruce Creek recently (they were 0-6 in their previous six matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Bears walked away with a 4-1 win over the Hawks. While the Bears didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-16), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Bartram Trail also got a great performance from Kors Matthews as he tossed five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits.
At the plate, Colby Dean was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double. Those two RBI gave him a new career-high. Max Wilkerson also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Bartram Trail's victory bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Ponte Vedra, their win bumped their record up to 4-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Ponte Vedra has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 11.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Bartram Trail struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 9.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Ponte Vedra might still be hurting after the 14-7 defeat they got from Bartram Trail when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Sharks avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
