Softball Game Preview: Seffner Christian Crusaders vs. Saint Stephen's Episcopal Falcons

The Seffner Christian Crusaders will face off against the Saint Stephen's Episcopal Falcons at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Seffner Christian is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.

Saint Stephen's Episcopal will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Seffner Christian extended their winning streak to three last Tuesday. The Crusaders' pitcher stepped up to hand St. Petersburg Catholic a 14-0 shutout. That 14 run margin sets a new team best for the Crusaders this season.

Allison Baston made a big impact no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out nine over four innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

Isabella Biase

Runs (Career)

04/08/25 @ St. Petersburg Catholic	4
03/07/25 vs Northside Christian	3
04/03/25 @ Indian Rocks Christian	2
03/26/24 vs Santa Fe Catholic	2
03/19/24 @ All Saints' Academy	2

In other batting news, Tenley Newman and Isabella Biase did most of the damage at the plate: Newman scored two runs and stole three bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances, while Biase scored four runs while going 2-for-3. Those four runs gave Biase a new career-high. Kyla Slauter was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-2.

Seffner Christian always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .588. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Saint Stephen's Episcopal didn't have quite enough to beat Shorecrest Prep on Tuesday and fell 5-3. The Falcons have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Saint Stephen's Episcopal saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Rylan Goar, who scored three runs and stole five bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.

Seffner Christian's victory bumped their record up to 8-6. As for Saint Stephen's Episcopal, their defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 7-6.

The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Seffner Christian has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Saint Stephen's Episcopal struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.