The Poplar Springs Atomics will square off against the Cottondale Hornets at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Poplar Springs is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They put the hurt on Graceville with a sharp 33-22 win. The Atomics' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Natalee Smith
| 04/28/25 @ Graceville | 4 |
| 04/10/25 vs Bethlehem | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Gadsden County | 1 |
| 04/11/25 vs Rutherford | 1 |
| 04/04/25 @ Geneva County | 1 |
Poplar Springs got a massive performance out of Natalee Smith, who got on base in six of her eight plate appearances with four stolen bases, four runs, and three RBI. Those four stolen bases gave Smith a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Jada Bollon, who got on base in five of her seven plate appearances with four stolen bases, four RBI, and two runs.
Meanwhile, Cottondale entered their tilt with Marianna last Monday with four consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with five. They were the clear victors by a 17-4 margin over the Bulldogs. The Hornets might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven games by seven runs or more this season.
Annelise Skipper and Chrishaunna Dawson were major factors while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Skipper struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off one hit. Meanwhile, Dawson pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Skipper has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 12 consecutive appearances. At the plate, Skipper got on base in all five of her plate appearances with four runs and two RBI, while Dawson got on base in four of her five plate appearances with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. That triple marked the first that Dawson has hit this season.
In other batting news, Maycee Griffin was incredible, going 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Paige Carter, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Cottondale was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .394. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive contests.
Poplar Springs is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four matches. That's provided a massive bump to their 4-14 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 22.3 runs over those games. As for Cottondale, their record is now 15-4.
Poplar Springs suffered a grim 15-0 defeat to Cottondale in their previous meeting back in April of 2023. Can the Atomics avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
