The Lakewood Cougars will be defending their home field for the first time this season when they go up against the Nooksack Valley Pioneers at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Lakewood has given up an average of 11.8 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
It was a proper cat-fight when Lakewood duked it out with Lynden on Thursday. Lakewood wound up with the same score they had in their last game (12-8), but sadly the team found themselves on the wrong side of the score this time. They haven't had much luck with the Lions recently, as the team has come up short the last six times they've met.
Cassidy Wolfe was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3. That stolen base marked the first that she snagged this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Riley Pevny, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Nooksack Valley put another one in the bag on Wednesday to keep their perfect season alive. They never let Bellingham get on the board and left with a 17-0 win. Fans of the Pioneers have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 6+ runs.
Gracie Rutgers was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with five RBI, three runs, and one stolen base. Those five RBI gave her a new career-high. Shelby Mason was another key player, scoring four runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Nooksack Valley was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .630. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher in six consecutive matches dating back to last season.
Lakewood's loss was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 2-3. As for Nooksack Valley, their victory bumped their record up to 3-0.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Lakewood hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .369. However, it's not like Nooksack Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .521. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Lakewood's way against Nooksack Valley when the teams last played back in May of 2024, as Lakewood made off with an 11-1 win. Does Lakewood have another victory up their sleeve, or will Nooksack Valley turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
