The LaBelle Cowboys/Cowgirls will challenge the Lake Placid Dragons at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
While LaBelle's victory against Avon Park wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. LaBelle skirted past Avon Park 4-2. The win was some much needed relief for the Cowboys/Cowgirls as it spelled an end to their four-game losing streak.
Abby Hicks spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on six hits.
At the plate, LaBelle saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Nevaeh Crumb, who went 1-for-2 with one double and one RBI. That double was Crumb's first of the season.
Meanwhile, after only two runs in their last game, Lake Placid made sure to put some runs up on the board against Hardee on Monday. Lake Placid came out on top against Hardee by a score of 12-2 (the very same score they lost by in their prior game). The Dragons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six contests by ten runs or more this season.
Jillian Garduno and Kaylee Grigsby made a big impact no matter where they played. Throwing, Garduno didn't allow a single earned run over 4.1 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Grigsby tossed 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-low in walks (one). At the plate, Garduno scored three runs while going 3-for-3, while Grigsby scored a run while going 2-for-4. That's the most runs Garduno has posted since back in March of 2024.
In other batting news, Natalie Velozo and Tara Person did most of the damage at the plate: Velozo got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base, while Person went 3-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI. Those three hits gave Person a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Emily Tharp, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Lake Placid kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Hardee only managed seven hits.
LaBelle's victory bumped their record up to 4-7. As for Lake Placid, their win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 6-7.
LaBelle might still be hurting after the 13-3 defeat they got from Lake Placid in their previous meeting back in February. Will LaBelle have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
