The First Academy Royals will face off against the East River Falcons at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Tuesday just wasn't the day for The First Academy's offense. They lost 16-0 to Apopka on Tuesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Royals have suffered since March 14th.
Meanwhile, East River came tearing into Wednesday's game with seven straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.6 runs), and they left with even more momentum. Their pitchers stepped up to hand the Eagles an 18-0 shutout. The Falcons' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Talisa Soto made a big impact no matter where she played. She tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in 13 consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in February.
In other batting news, Katherine Sanchez was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI, two runs, and two doubles. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Tru Mastro, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
East River always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .828. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
East River pushed their record up to 14-5 with the win, which was their fifth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games. As for The First Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 9-9.
Thursday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. The First Academy hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like East River struggles in that department as they've averaged .409. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
