The Pioneer Panthers will head out on the road to face off against the North Miami Warriors at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Pioneer will be strutting in after a win while North Miami will be coming in after a loss.
Pioneer gave up the first runs on Monday, but they didn't let that get them down. They blew past North White 13-2. The Panthers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight matchups by 11 runs or more this season.
Victoria Bingamen made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over six innings pitched. Bingamen was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Those two RBI gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Hollie Zellers, who went 1-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Addison Kennell was another key player, going 1-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
Pioneer hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in nine consecutive games.
Meanwhile, North Miami fell victim to Central Noble and their airtight pitching crew on Monday. They lost 7-0 to the Cougars. Having soared to a lofty 13 runs in the game before, the Warriors' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Erika Raber spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and four unearned) runs on eight hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
Pioneer's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 13-8. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.7 runs on average over those games. As for North Miami, their defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 12-4.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Pioneer hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .355. However, it's not like North Miami struggles in that department as they've averaged .364. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pioneer took their victory against North Miami in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 11-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
