The Maconaquah Braves will take on the North Newton Spartans in a tournament on Saturday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Maconaquah was handed a seven-run loss in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Delphi Community 6-5.
Blayklee Buman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and two unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up six Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Shaela Brazzel was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Brayden Peterson also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Meanwhile, North Newton had already won eight in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 10.3 runs) and they went ahead and made it nine on Friday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Hot Dogs a 19-0 shutout. Considering the Spartans have won nine contests by more than six runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Sydney Rainford was a major factor no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 14 over five innings pitched. Rainford was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Rylynn Klemz, who went 3-for-4 with four runs, two triples, and three RBI. Those four runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was June Busboom, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles.
North Newton was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .552. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher in three consecutive games.
Maconaquah's record is now 3-9. As for North Newton, their record now sits at 12-1-1.
Saturday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Maconaquah hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .329. However, it's not like North Newton struggles in that department as they've averaged .347. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Maconaquah might still be hurting after the 10-0 defeat they got from North Newton in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Braves avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
