The Colton Vikings will square off against the Perrydale Pirates at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Colton has given up an average of 13 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Colton couldn't beat Salem Academy on Monday even though they stacked four runs on them in the third inning. The Vikings fell 12-8 to the Crusaders. The Vikings haven't had much luck with the Crusaders recently, as the team has come up short the last five times they've met.
Katelynn Kimsey was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Lylah Morgan, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double.
Meanwhile, Perrydale came tearing into Tuesday's game with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12.3 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They put the hurt on the Cougars with a sharp 20-10 victory. While the Pirates didn't have the best season last year (they finished 2-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
The team relied heavily on Sophie Jackson, who went a perfect 6-for-6 with four runs, three doubles, and three RBI. Mallory Gunther was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and one double.
Perrydale was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .718. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .389 or higher in four consecutive contests.
Perrydale pushed their record up to 8-2 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 18.3 runs over those games. As for Colton, their loss dropped their record down to 5-9-1.
Friday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Colton has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .518. However, it's not like Perrydale struggles in that department as they've averaged .612. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Colton might still be hurting after the 20-10 defeat they got from Perrydale in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Will the Vikings have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
