The Viera Hawks will take on the Rockledge Raiders at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Viera's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs every time they've taken the field this season.
Viera's pitching crew heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Thursday. Everything went their way against Heritage as Viera made off with a 20-0 win.
Madison Rider and Rylan Cozzie Cozzolino did most of the damage at the plate: Rider went 1-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI, while Cozzolino scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2. The team also got some help courtesy of Tori Berry, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
Viera was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .520. The last time their batting average was this high was back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, it was close, but on Thursday Rockledge sidestepped Sebastian River for a 5-4 victory.
Haley Smith spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on five hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Kaylah Comeau, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and one double. That home run marked the first that she launched this season. Gizelle Arteaga was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-2.
Rockledge now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Viera, they now have a winning record of 2-1.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Viera hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .480. However, it's not like Rockledge struggles in that department as they've averaged .329. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Viera took their win against Rockledge when the teams last played back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 10-0. Will Viera repeat their success, or does Rockledge have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
