Softball Game Preview: Cocoa Tigers vs. Space Coast Vipers

For the first time this season, Cocoa will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup on Wednesday. They will head out on the road to take on the Space Coast Vipers at 6:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Fans were treated to a battle of the Tigers on Friday. Cocoa won by a run and slipped past Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy 9-8. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory Cocoa has posted against Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy since April 2, 2019.

Meanwhile, Space Coast had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.7 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Monday. They never let the Terriers get on the board and left with an 18-0 win. The result was nothing new for the Vipers, who have now won three contests by ten runs or more so far this season.

Paige Reynolds made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). Reynolds was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.

In other batting news, Space Coast let Cameron Flaskamp and Abby Minear run wild. Flaskamp went a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run, while Minear scored three runs and stole Three bases. while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. Those four RBI gave Flaskamp a new career-high. Olivia St. Germain also deserves some recognition as she brought in her first RBI of the season.

Space Coast always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .875. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.

Space Coast pushed their record up to 4-3 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 11.8 runs. As for Cocoa, the win got them back to even at 2-2.

Cocoa might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Space Coast when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can Cocoa avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.