Crestwood is 8-1 against Kirtland since April of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Red Devils will venture away from home to face off against the Hornets at 5:00 p.m. Kirtland took a loss in their last contest and will be looking to turn the tables on Crestwood, who comes in off a win.
Crestwood came out on top against Laurel on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run second inning. The Red Devils took their match against the Gators 10-5. With that win, the Red Devils brought their scoring average up to 6.2 runs per game.
Grace Harper
| 05/15/25 @ Laurel | 10 |
| 05/14/25 @ St. Martin de Porres | 8 |
| 05/12/25 @ Valley Forge | 2 |
| 05/06/25 vs Harvey | 2 |
| 05/05/25 vs Open Door Christian | 3 |
| + 11 more games |
Grace Harper made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off six hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in March. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with one stolen base and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Bella Stier, who went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. Serena Wright was another key player, getting on base in two of her five plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.
Crestwood always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .523. They are 4-1 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Kirtland fell victim to McDonald and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They lost 10-0 to the Blue Devils. Having soared to a lofty 16 runs in the game before, the Hornets' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Crestwood has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-14 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Kirtland, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 7-12 record this season.
Friday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Crestwood hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .351. However, it's not like Kirtland struggles in that department as they've averaged .335. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Crestwood came out on top in a nail-biter against Kirtland in their previous matchup back in April, sneaking past 11-10. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Red Devils since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
