Jackson Day easily dispatched Sugar Creek Charter last Friday, but unfortunately both the margin and the ultimate result were a different story in this one. The Mariners fell just short of the West Mecklenburg Hawks by a score of 9-7 on Thursday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Mariners have suffered since April 22, 2024.
Matthew Parson was huge no matter where he played even without the win. On the mound, he struck out eight batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and eight unearned) runs off seven hits. That's the fewest hits he has allowed since back in March of 2024. He was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3.
Parson wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Nick Rauch, who scored a run while going 1-for-3. Kevin Decosta also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.
Jackson Day has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost four of their last five matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 2-7 record this season. Those losses can't be blamed on the team's hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 6.6 runs over those games. As for West Mecklenburg, their record is now 10-2.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Jackson Day will square off against Community Christian Academy at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. The Warriors will roll in looking for their seventh straight victory, something the Mariners surely won't give up without a fight. As for West Mecklenburg, they will face off against North Mecklenburg at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The Hawks' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Vikings have averaged an impressive 7.4 runs per game this season.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
