The West Stanly Colts will take on the McMichael Phoenix at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (West Stanly 2, McMichael 3.9) so any runs scored will be well earned.
West Stanly is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Burns with a sharp 12-1 win. The Colts might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 12 games by seven runs or more this season.
The team relied heavily on Saylor Edwards, who fired off two home runs and four RBI while going 3-for-3. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Makayla Crayton, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.
They weren't the only ones working in the home run department: West Stanly lost a few balls and finished the game with four home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, McMichael was able to grind out a solid victory over Brevard on Tuesday, taking the game 4-1.
Lindsay Redmon was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in nine consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
Redmon wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Ava Harris, who went 2-for-3 with one double.
McMichael is on a roll lately: they've won eight of their last nine matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 21-4 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.2 runs on average over those games. As for West Stanly, their victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 21-4.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. West Stanly hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .362. However, it's not like McMichael struggles in that department as they've averaged .376. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
West Stanly came out on top in a nail-biter against McMichael when the teams last played back in May of 2023, sneaking past 4-2. Do the Colts have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Phoenix turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
