Softball Preview: Nature Coast Tech Sharks vs. Central Bears
After six games on the road, Nature Coast Tech is heading back home. They will take on the Central Bears at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Nature Coast Tech is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 6.6 runs per game this season.
Nature Coast Tech proved they can win big on Tuesday (they won by 11) but on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They skirted past Crystal River 6-4.
Kamryn Ross spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on nine hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive pitching appearances.
At the plate, Nature Coast Tech's victory was truly a team effort as seven different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Ashlynn Sentner, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Sentner is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stolen at least one in the last four games she's played.
Meanwhile, Central was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They suffered a rough 11-1 loss at the hands of Lecanto.
Central saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ayva Frechette, who went 2-for-2 with a stolen base and a double. Mackenzie Dorsey was another key contributor, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-2.
The win got Nature Coast Tech back to even at 10-10. As for Central, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-11.
Central's pitching crew has a tough task ahead of them: Nature Coast Tech has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9 hits per game. It's a different story for Central, though, as they've been averaging 11.8. Given Nature Coast Tech's sizable advantage in that area, Central will need to find a way to close that gap.
Nature Coast Tech took their victory against Central in their previous matchup back in March by a conclusive 16-0. Will Nature Coast Tech repeat their success, or does Central have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
