The Beal City Aggies are taking a road trip to face off against the Houghton Lake Bobcats at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday. One thing working in Beal City's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last five matches.
Beal City came out on top against Central Montcalm on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive seven-run third inning. The Aggies blew past the Hornets 12-1. Considering the Aggies have won 11 games by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Emma Block was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. What's more, she posted four strikeouts, the most she's had over her last ten contests. She was even better at the plate, firing off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Emily Taylor, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Nevaeh Welsh was another key player, going a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run.
Beal City kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in ten consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Houghton Lake faced off against Evart on Tuesday. The Bobcats came up short against the Wildcats, falling 17-1. The loss continues a trend for the Bobcats in their meetings with the Wildcats: they've now lost six in a row.
Beal City pushed their record up to 18-3 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games. As for Houghton Lake, their defeat dropped their record down to 7-10.
Houghton Lake's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Beal City has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .487. It's a different story for Houghton Lake, though, as they've only averaged .327. Will they be able to contain Beal City's hitters?
Beal City took their win against Houghton Lake in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 15-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Aggies since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
