The Steele Comets will head out on the road to take on the North Ridgeville Rangers at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The last three games Steele has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Steele blew Avon Lake out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Tuesday Avon Lake got their revenge. The Comets fell just short of the Shoremen by a score of 11-9. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Comets have suffered since April 2nd.
Meanwhile, North Ridgeville had already won four in a row and they went ahead and made it five on Monday. Everything went their way against the Shoremen as they made off with a 21-2 victory. The result was nothing new for the Rangers, who have now won six matches by seven runs or more so far this season.
Naomi Bottomlee made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up just two earned runs off one hit (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and one double.
In other pitching news, Selena Bottomlee looked comfortable as she tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Paige Piccolomini was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four runs, and five RBI. Those four runs gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Kasey Melvin, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI.
North Ridgeville lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Steele's loss dropped their record down to 14-5. As for North Ridgeville, their record is now 15-3.
Steele couldn't quite get it done against North Ridgeville in their previous meeting on April 12th as they fell 4-1. Can the Comets avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
