The Central Academy Cougars will square off against the Pine Lake Prep Pride at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Central Academy has given up an average of 7.6 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Central Academy is headed into Monday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Thursday. They lost 16-5 to Piedmont.
Katelyn Easterly made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one home run and two runs. That home run marked the first that she launched this season. Another player making a difference was Emma Hunt, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Pine Lake Prep suffered their closest defeat since April 12, 2024 on Friday. They fell just short of Mountain Island Charter by a score of 7-5.
Kristen Armstrong was huge no matter where she played even without the win. On the mound, she tossed six innings while giving up just one earned (and six unearned) runs off three hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Sydney Gillmore was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Ava Cornacchione was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-4.
Pine Lake Prep's loss ended a three-game streak of away wins and brought them to 9-3. As for Central Academy, they now have a losing record of 7-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Central Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Pine Lake Prep struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 9.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Central Academy came out on top in a nail-biter against Pine Lake Prep when the teams last played back in April of 2024, sneaking past 2-1. Do the Cougars have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Pride turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
