The Shea Raiders will head out to take on the Cranston East Thunderbolts at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Shea has given up an average of 17 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Shea is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Davies Career & Tech, who was ranked 18th at the time (Shea was ranked 23rd). The Raiders came up short against the Patriots on Wednesday, falling 16-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Raiders have suffered against the Patriots since April 3, 2019.
Gianna Quinones was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Cranston East had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 13 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Wednesday. They beat the Islanders by the very same score they won with in their prior game: 11-1. The result was nothing new for the Thunderbolts, who have now won four matchups by ten runs or more so far this season.
Lexi Montalban made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out nine over six innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
In other batting news, Gianna Tocci was incredible, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with three stolen bases, one run, and one RBI. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in April of 2024. Cydnee Meekins was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI.
Cranston East's win was their 11th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-1. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games. As for Shea, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-4.
Saturday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Shea hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .330. However, it's not like Cranston East struggles in that department as they've averaged .367. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Shea might still be hurting after the 10-1 loss they got from Cranston East in their previous meeting back in June of 2024. Can the Raiders avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
