Softball Game Preview: Derby Red Raiders vs. Waterbury Career Academy Spartans

Derby hasn't had much luck against Waterbury Career Academy recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Red Raiders will look to defend their home field against the Spartans at 5:30 p.m. Considering both teams were shutout in their prior games, the pair is probably coming into this one with something to prove.

Derby is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Connecticut's top teams: Holy Cross, who was ranked seventh at the time (Derby was ranked 22nd). The Red Raiders lost 13-0 to the Crusaders on Wednesday. The Red Raiders have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Meanwhile, Thursday just wasn't the day for Waterbury Career Academy's offense. They came up short against Torrington on Thursday, falling 14-0. The Spartans haven't had much luck with the Raiders recently, as the team has come up short the last nine times they've met.

Waterbury Career Academy's defeat dropped their record down to 1-6. As for Derby, their loss dropped their record down to 2-4.

Waterbury Career Academy's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Tuesday. Derby has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.7 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Waterbury Career Academy, though, as they've been averaging only 4 strikeouts. Will Derby keep running through batters, or will the Spartans buck the trend?

Derby might still be hurting after the 19-4 defeat they got from Waterbury Career Academy in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Red Raiders avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.