Dukes
| 05/15/25 @ Black River | 7 |
| 05/14/25 vs East Canton | 10 |
| 05/12/25 vs Firelands | 0 |
| 05/10/25 vs Keystone | 8 |
| 05/07/25 @ Oberlin | 15 |
| + 14 more games |
Wellington and Brookside are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2018, but likely not for long. The Dukes are taking a road trip to challenge the Cardinals at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Wellington is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.
Wellington took a six-run loss the last time they faced off against Black River, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Dukes came out on top in a nail-biter against the Pirates on Thursday, sneaking past 7-5. The game was the first time the Dukes have beaten the Pirates on their field since May 11, 2021.
Mallory Pickering was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Pickering was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three runs, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Caedyn Wacker, who went 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run.
Wellington kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Brookside had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Thursday. They came out on top against the Bulldogs by a score of 10-5.
Like Wellington, Brookside also got a great game from a two-way player: Markie-Ann Aliff. She struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off ten hits. Aliff has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, firing off three home runs, six RBI, and one stolen base while going 4-for-5. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, Khloe Racz was incredible, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and one double. Trinity Arend was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.
Brookside's victory was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-15. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for Wellington, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-9 record this season.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Wellington hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .315. However, it's not like Brookside struggles in that department as they've averaged .323. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Wellington's way against Brookside in their previous matchup back in April, as Wellington made off with a 9-3 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Dukes since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
