The Central Dragons will take on the Forest Hills Rangers at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Bellwood-Antis hit Central with a five-run first inning on Monday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Dragons fell just short of the Blue Devils by a score of 8-7.
Aubrey Rhodes was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. That home run was her first of the season. Norah Bechtel was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Forest Hills came out on top against DuBois on Monday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run third inning. The Rangers took their game against the Beavers 6-1. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Rangers.
Avery Smiach spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on two hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, Ana Spangler and Mylee Gdula did most of the damage at the plate: Spangler went 1-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run, while Gdula went 3-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Aivah Maul, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Central has been struggling recently as they've lost four of their last five matchups. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-8 record this season. That patch can't be blamed on the team's hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 6.2 runs over those games. As for Forest Hills, their victory bumped their record up to 10-1.
Central's speedy runners might be the difference in Wednesday's contest. The Dragons have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Forest Hills, though, as they've been averaging only 0.5 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Central continue to outrun the ball?
Central couldn't quite get it done against Forest Hills when the teams last played back in April of 2024 as they fell 5-0. Will the Dragons have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
