The Pocatello Thunder will face off against the Skyview Hawks at 11:15 a.m. on Friday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Pocatello comes in on 14 and Skyview on three.
Pocatello's pitching crew heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Thursday. They blew past Jerome 12-0. The Thunder might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won ten contests by seven runs or more this season.
Charlie Naylor was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out ten over four innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
In other batting news, Pocatello let Azlin Bullock and Jordy Snell run wild. Bullock went 1-for-2 with one home run and four RBI, while Snell went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most RBI Bullock has posted since back in March. Oakley Hirschi was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.
Pocatello kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 14 consecutive games.
Skyview hadn't beaten Bishop Kelly on the road since May 13, 2023 but that history sure didn't bother them on Thursday. The Hawks walked away with an 8-3 victory over the Knights.
Makenna Shamy spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on four hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Lily Bittinger, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and two doubles. Another player making a difference was Grace Chambers, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three stolen bases, four runs, and one RBI.
Pocatello pushed their record up to 22-4 with the win, which was their ninth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs over those games. As for Skyview, the win got them back to even at 14-14.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pocatello has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .453. However, it's not like Skyview struggles in that department as they've averaged .436. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pocatello couldn't quite finish off Skyview in their previous matchup back in May of 2023 and fell 12-10. Can the Thunder avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
