The Isabella Mustangs will challenge the Tuscaloosa Academy Knights at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Isabella is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.6 runs per game this season.
Isabella took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They blew past Dallas County 16-1. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Mustangs as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Austin Porter
| 03/06/25 @ Dallas County | 3 |
| 02/27/25 @ Maplesville | 3 |
| 03/28/25 vs Dallas County | 2 |
| 03/04/25 @ Central of Coosa County | 2 |
| 02/24/25 vs Central of Coosa County | 2 |
| + 3 more games |
Austin Porter made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, he gave up only zero walks, the fewest he's had since back in February. He was even better at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. He has become a key player for Isabella: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 3-5 otherwise.
In other batting news, Garrett Price was excellent, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-2. Another player making a difference was Alex Henderson, who scored two runs while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Tuscaloosa Academy waltzed into their matchup on Friday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They walked away with an 8-5 victory over the Tigers.
Harwood Beeker spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned (and three unearned) runs on six hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Mark Norris, who scored a run while going 2-for-3. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in RBI (two).
Isabella's win bumped their record up to 8-5. As for Tuscaloosa Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 6-15.
Tuscaloosa Academy's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Isabella hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .316. It's a different story for Tuscaloosa Academy, though, as they've only averaged .209. Will they be able to contain Isabella's hitters? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
