The Brookside Cardinals will head out on the road to square off against the Columbia Raiders at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams are strolling into their matches after big wins in their previous games.
Brookside is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They never let Clearview get on the board and left with a 20-0 win on Monday. The victory continues a trend for the Cardinals in their matchups with the Clippers: they've now won four in a row.
Markie-Ann Aliff
| 04/14/25 vs Clearview | 11 |
| 04/08/25 vs Firelands | 8 |
| 04/07/25 vs Black River | 6 |
| 04/03/25 @ Independence | 7 |
| 04/01/25 vs Open Door Christian | 9 |
Markie-Ann Aliff was a major factor no matter where she played. She kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring four runs and stealing three bases while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Brookside let Khloe Racz and Cailynnn Weppelmen run wild. Racz scored three runs and stole five bases while going 3-for-4, while Weppelmen scored three runs and stole four bases while going 3-for-3. That's the most hits Racz has posted since back in May of 2024. Another player making a difference was Trinity Arend, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
Brookside kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. They are 2-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
While Columbia didn't have the best season last year (they finished 5-9), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They were the clear victors by a 17-5 margin over Wellington on Monday. Considering the Raiders have won five games by more than 11 runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Sadie Schulke made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing five innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. Schulke was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one stolen base.
In other pitching news, Alina Jones looked comfortable as she tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit.
Back at the plate, Grace Anderson and Kenzie Shackelton did most of the damage at the plate: Anderson went 4-for-5 with three runs, three doubles, and four RBI, while Shackelton scored four runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-3. Kaitlyn Miller was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 2-for-5.
The win made it two in a row for Columbia and bumps their season record up to 6-1. As for Brookside, their victory was their first in the conference, bumping their conference record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 3-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Brookside has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Columbia struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 9.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Brookside skirted past Columbia 3-1 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Do the Cardinals have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Raiders turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
