The Pendleton Heights Arabians will head out to face off against the Avon Orioles at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Pendleton Heights is coming into the contest on a three-game losing streak.
New Palestine hit Pendleton Heights with a four-run first inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Arabians might be feeling deja-vu: they lost 4-3 to the Dragons, which was the same score (and result) they got the week prior.
Morgan Bricker spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on ten hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Kaylee Smith was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-3 with one home run. The team also got some help courtesy of Grace Fisher, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Avon never got on the board in their matchup on Tuesday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Columbus East on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 14-3 margin over the Olympians. With that victory, the Orioles brought their scoring average up to 6.2 runs per game.
Brinley Pope made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed four innings while giving up three earned runs off four hits. What's more, she posted three strikeouts, the most she's had since back in April. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one triple and one RBI.
In other batting news, Lilly Heath was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with three runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in May of 2024. Zoey Chavez was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
Avon was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .481. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Pendleton Heights' loss dropped their record down to 10-13. As for Avon, their record is now 6-15.
Saturday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Pendleton Heights hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like Avon struggles in that department as they've averaged .324. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pendleton Heights came out on top in a nail-biter against Avon in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, sneaking past 7-6. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Arabians since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
