Softball Preview: Pace Academy Knights vs. Midtown Knights
Pace Academy has enjoyed a five-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will challenge the Midtown Knights at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Pace Academy's pitching crew heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They were the clear victor by a 15-0 margin over Jackson.
Megan Wrigley made a splash while hitting and pitching. She struck out nine batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in six consecutive pitching appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three runs and a triple.
In other batting news, Kate Grice was incredible, going 3-for-3 with two triples, three runs, and three runs. Another player making a difference was Katie Wrigley, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Pace Academy was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .650. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher in nine consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Midtown got the win against M.L. King on Tuesday by a conclusive 18-1. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Knights.
Like Pace Academy, Midtown also got a great game from a two-way player: Maggie Morran. On the mound, she tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. What's more, Morran also racked up four strikeouts, the mostshe's had since back in August. 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, Midtown got a massive performance out of Chloe Peyton, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with a home run, two stolen bases, and two stolen bases. Another player making a difference was Megan Bookspun, who scored four runs and stole four bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Pace Academy pushed their record up to 17-4 with the win, which was their seventh straight at home. As for Midtown, their record is now 12-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pace Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.2 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Midtown struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.6. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Pace Academy took their victory against Midtown when the teams last played on September 3rd by a conclusive 13-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for Pace Academy since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
