The Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos will face off against the Plainfield Quakers at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Lafayette Jefferson has given up an average of 6.6 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Lafayette Jefferson came up short against Kokomo on Thursday, falling 18-8. The Bronchos haven't had much luck with the Wildkats recently, as the team has come up short the last five times they've met.
Abbigail Griffith was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. Another player making a difference was Rilee Clifton, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Plainfield had already won nine in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.8 runs) and they went ahead and made it ten on Wednesday. They never let the Hawks get on the board and left with an 11-0 victory. Considering the Quakers have won nine contests by more than five runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Kami Arnett was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ayva Mayes, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted over her last 11 matchups. Kylie Fish was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Plainfield always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .516. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Decatur Central only posted an OBP of .167.
Plainfield pushed their record up to 15-1 with the win, which was their 13th straight on the road dating back to last season. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Lafayette Jefferson, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-6.
Saturday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Lafayette Jefferson has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .451. However, it's not like Plainfield struggles in that department as they've averaged .442. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Lafayette Jefferson might still be hurting after the 6-0 loss they got from Plainfield in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Bronchos avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
