The Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions will take on the Empire Ravens at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.1 runs per game this season.
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 15 runs on Friday, they were much more limited against Walden Grove on Tuesday. They fell just short of the Red Wolves by a score of 2-1.
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was John Sunukjian, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Empire waltzed into their matchup on Tuesday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They never let the Titans get on the board and left with a 13-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Ravens, who have now won eight contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Asher Bird made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, he posted three strikeouts, the most he's had since back in March of 2024. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one triple.
In other batting news, Brady Carey was excellent, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-1. Empire is 2-1 when Carey posts two or more runs, but 9-10 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Micah Tiggas, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-2.
Empire always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .600. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Pusch Ridge Christian Academy's loss dropped their record down to 10-10. As for Empire, the win got them back to even at 11-11.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Empire struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Pusch Ridge Christian Academy's way against Empire when the teams last played back in April of 2024, as Pusch Ridge Christian Academy made off with an 8-2 victory. Do the Lions have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Ravens turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
