North Port hasn't had much luck against Manatee recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The North Port Bobcats will square off against the Manatee Hurricanes at 7:00 p.m. Manatee took a loss in their last matchup and will be looking to turn the tables on North Port, who comes in off a win.
North Port made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Riverdale, but they still couldn't quite topple them. Everything went North Port's way against Riverdale on Friday as North Port made off with an 8-1 victory. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Bobcats as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.
Payson Rumley spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Cailinne Kelly was excellent, scoring two runs while going 1-for-4. Ciara Perez also deserves some recognition as she got her first hits of the season.
Kelly wasn't the only one working in the hit department: North Port kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Riverdale only managed four hits.
Meanwhile, Manatee fell victim to Palmetto and their airtight pitching crew on Monday. They came up short against the Tigers, falling 10-0. The Hurricanes have struggled against the Tigers recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meetings.
North Port's record now sits at 2-4. As for Manatee, their loss dropped their record down to an identical 2-4.
North Port's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's contest. North Port has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Manatee, though, as they've been averaging only 0.8 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will North Port continue to outrun the ball?
North Port couldn't quite get it done against Manatee in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 as they fell 7-3. Can North Port avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
