The New Haven Rockets will challenge the Lake Shore Shorians at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
New Haven headed into their last game having not scored more than two runs for three straight, but Roseville let them put that streak behind them. The Rockets never let the Panthers get on the board and left with a 15-0 win on Monday. The Rockets have beaten the Panthers the last eight times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Panthers has come to flipping the script.
Jerikah Bowman Class 2026 made a splash 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). Bowman Class 2026 was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, New Haven let Morgan Dunigan Class 2028 and Gabrielle (Gabby) Goetz Class 2025 run wild. Dunigan Class 2028 scored two runs while getting on base in both of her plate appearances, while Goetz Class 2025 scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2. Aleksa Sanchez Class 2026 was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in two of her three plate appearances.
New Haven always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .652. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Lake Shore faced Warren Woods-Tower in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Monday. The Shorians narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Titans 8-7. The win was familiar territory for the Shorians, who have now won four contests in a row.
Sophia VanDenstorm was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 14 batters over seven innings while giving up six earned (and one unearned) runs off nine hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than 11 strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. That home run marked the first that she launched this season.
In other batting news, Izzy Bennett and Piper Lees did most of the damage at the plate: Bennett scored a run while going 1-for-3, while Lees scored a run while going 1-for-2. Makayla Blumenschein also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Lake Shore's victory bumped their record up to 5-2. As for New Haven, their win (their first of the season) made their record 1-3.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. New Haven has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .479. However, it's not like Lake Shore struggles in that department as they've averaged .519. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
