The Fort Chiswell Pioneers will head out on the road to square off against the Giles Spartans at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
As a matter of fact, Fort Chiswell put up the most runs they have all season on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Galax with a sharp 15-3 victory. The win continues a trend for the Pioneers in their matchups with the Maroon Tide: they've now won five in a row.
Blair Jackson
| 04/08/25 @ Galax | 18 |
| 04/04/25 vs George Wythe | 15 |
| 04/01/25 vs Auburn | 7 |
| 03/28/25 @ Grayson County | 11 |
| 03/27/25 vs Narrows | 8 |
| + 11 more games |
Blair Jackson made a splash while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run while striking out 18 over seven innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in April of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-5. That stolen base marked the first that she snagged this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Krista King, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. Lilly Goforth was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-5.
Meanwhile, Giles came tearing into Wednesday's matchup with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victors by a 23-1 margin over the Green Waves. That 22 run margin sets a new team best for the Spartans this season.
Like Fort Chiswell, Giles also got a great game from a two-way player: Addie Lowry. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Lowry has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring four runs and stealing a base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
In other batting news, Peyton Evans was a standout: she scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Addison Hylton, who got on base in four of her five plate appearances with one triple and two RBI.
Giles always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .702. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Fort Chiswell pushed their record up to 5-3 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.3 runs over those games. As for Giles, their record now sits at 6-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Fort Chiswell has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 10.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Giles struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
