The Loyd Star Hornets will head out to face off against the Pelahatchie Chiefs at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Loyd Star's pitching crew has only allowed 3.3 runs per game this season, so Pelahatchie's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
On Monday, Loyd Star came up short against West Marion and fell 5-2.
Loyd Star saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Maddie Kate Britt, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, Pelahatchie made easy work of McLaurin on Monday and carried off a 13-1 win. The Chiefs might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by eight runs or more this season.
Ava Till made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Khloe McLaurin, who scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in February. Emalyn Waters was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.
Pelahatchie always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .733. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as McLaurin only posted an OBP of .133.
The victory made it two in a row for Pelahatchie and bumps their season record up to 11-6. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 4 runs in those games. As for Loyd Star, their defeat dropped their record down to 17-6.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Loyd Star has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .436. However, it's not like Pelahatchie struggles in that department as they've averaged .546. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
