The Hawthorne Hornets will face off against the Palatka Panthers at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Hawthorne is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.8 runs per game this season.
Hawthorne took a loss when they played away from home on Thursday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They put the hurt on Peniel Baptist Academy with a sharp 21-9 victory. The Hornets haven't had any issues with the Warriors recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
Connor Flinchum
| 03/28/25 vs Peniel Baptist Academy | 3 |
| 03/17/25 @ Wildwood | 3 |
| 03/06/25 @ Peniel Baptist Academy | 3 |
| 03/25/25 @ Crescent City | 2 |
| 03/12/25 vs Eastside | 2 |
| + 6 more games |
Connor Flinchum was a standout: he went 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. He is becoming a predictor of Hawthorne's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 6-1 (and 3-6 when he doesn't). Tison Thomas was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-4.
Flinchum wasn't the only one working in the hit department: Hawthorne kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 17 hits. That's a new trend for Hawthorne: they were averaging 5.5 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 contests they've averaged 12.2.
Meanwhile, Palatka waltzed into their matchup on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They had just enough and edged out the Indians 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Panthers have posted against the Indians since March 25, 2022.
Brayden Johns looked comfortable as he tossed 1.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Mason Malloy, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Palatka's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-8. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.5 runs over those games. As for Hawthorne, their win bumped their record up to 9-7.
Palatka's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hawthorne hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .320. It's a different story for Palatka, though, as they've only averaged .257. Will they be able to contain Hawthorne's hitters? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
