The Southern Aroostook Warriors will head out to challenge the Fort Fairfield Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Southern Aroostook has given up an average of 10 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Southern Aroostook is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 12 runs on Wednesday, they were much more limited against Katahdin on Tuesday. They lost 12-1 to the Cougars. The Warriors have struggled against the Cougars recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost meeting.
Meanwhile, Fort Fairfield put another one in the bag on Monday to keep their perfect season alive. They blew past Ashland 16-1. Fans of the Tigers have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 6+ runs.
Cayden Ala was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. Those seven strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Ala is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: he's snagged at least one every time he's taken the field this season.
In other batting news, Lucas Cormier was a standout: he went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Levi Cole, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Fort Fairfield was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .538. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .333 or higher every time they've taken the field this season.
Southern Aroostook's loss dropped their record down to 3-3. As for Fort Fairfield, their record now sits at 4-0.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Southern Aroostook has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Fort Fairfield struggles in that department as they've been averaging 10.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Southern Aroostook might still be hurting after the 21-6 defeat they got from Fort Fairfield in their previous meeting last Monday. Can the Warriors avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
