Lake Region is a perfect 7-0 against Mulberry since March of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Monday. The Thunder will be playing in front of their home fans against the Panthers at 7:00 p.m. Lake Region is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.7 runs per game this season.
Lake Region is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Florida's top teams: Bartow, who was ranked 19th at the time (Lake Region was ranked 18th). The Thunder sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 8-7 victory over the Yellow Jackets on Friday. That's two games straight that the Thunder have won by just one run.
Makenna Meadows
| 04/18/25 vs Bartow | 5 |
| 04/17/25 vs McKeel Academy | 18 |
| 04/14/25 @ Calvary Christian | 6 |
| 04/10/25 vs Auburndale | 14 |
| 04/04/25 @ George Jenkins | 10 |
| + 14 more games |
Makenna Meadows was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off ten hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 19 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kirsten Aldridge, who went 1-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March. Alicia Bradberry was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Mulberry, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Kathleen an 18-0 shutout on Thursday. The Panthers haven't had any issues with the Red Devils recently, as the game was their ninth consecutive win against them.
Like Lake Region, Mulberry also got a great game from a two-way player: Jazmyn Stierwalt. She pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Stierwalt was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run.
In other batting news, Mulberry got a massive performance out of A'Lejah Washington, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. Washington also put up a triple, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Kensingten Danforth, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Mulberry was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .857. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Mulberry's victory bumped their record up to 13-9. As for Lake Region, they pushed their record up to 20-3 with the win, which was their eighth straight at home.
Mulberry's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Monday. Lake Region has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.2 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Mulberry, though, as they've been averaging only 3 strikeouts. Will Lake Region keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?
Everything went Lake Region's way against Mulberry in their previous meeting back in February, as Lake Region made off with a 10-0 victory. Do the Thunder have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
