The Emmanuel Christian Warriors will challenge the North Baltimore Tigers at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Emmanuel Christian comes in on three and North Baltimore on five.
On Friday, Emmanuel Christian got the win against Cardinal Stritch by a conclusive 13-1. The result was nothing new for the Warriors, who have now won seven games by 12 runs or more so far this season.
Maggie Woodward was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. Woodward was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Emmanuel Christian got a massive performance out of Faith Taylor, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Paris Foster was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Emmanuel Christian always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .545. They are a perfect 8-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, North Baltimore beat Upper Scioto Valley 7-2 on Monday.
Brynlee Schmidt spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Layla Delancy was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Leah Trout, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
North Baltimore pushed their record up to 12-4 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.0 runs over those games. As for Emmanuel Christian, their win bumped their record up to 10-6.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Emmanuel Christian has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .519. However, it's not like North Baltimore struggles in that department as they've averaged .460. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
