Softball Game Preview: Highland Tech Rams vs. Bessemer City Yellow Jackets

Highland Tech and Bessemer City are an even 5-5 against one another since March of 2019, but likely not for long. The Rams will head out to challenge the Yellow Jackets at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Highland Tech is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11.3 runs per game this season.

Highland Tech made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Bessemer City, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Rams blew past the Yellow Jackets 14-4 on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Rams, who have now won seven contests by ten runs or more so far this season.

Jaelynn Motley

Batters Struck Out (Career)

04/08/25 vs Bessemer City	10
03/04/25 @ East Gaston	8
03/28/25 @ Pinnacle Classical Academy	3
04/01/25 @ Cherryville	2
03/07/25 vs East Gaston	2

Jaelynn Motley made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over five innings while giving up four earned runs off four hits. Those ten strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was even better at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-3. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last five games she's played.

In other batting news, Highland Tech got a massive performance out of Prudence Hammond, who scored four runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Makaylee Gantt, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles.

Highland Tech always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .647. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.

Highland Tech is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last nine matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-5 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.9 runs over those games. As for Bessemer City, they are on a seven-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 4-12.