Atkins hasn't had much luck against Rockingham County recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Camels will challenge the Cougars at 4:30 p.m. Atkins has given up an average of 10.4 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Atkins is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Everything went their way against High Point Central on Tuesday as they made off with a 23-12 victory. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Camels considering their one-run performance the matchup before.
The team relied heavily on Ava Fleming, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. Jaidyn Mayhue was another key player, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Atkins kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Rockingham County came tearing into Wednesday's game with 14 straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 5-4 W against the Raiders.
Ava Grace Pruitt spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four runs (all of which were unearned) on two hits and racked up 16 Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up a single earned run in seven consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Rockingham County's win was truly a team effort as five different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Kennidy Kirby, who went 2-for-4 with two runs. Another was Zoey Snead, who went 1-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Rockingham County pushed their record up to 16-1 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.7 runs on average over those games. As for Atkins, their record is now 6-11.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Atkins has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .455. However, it's not like Rockingham County struggles in that department as they've averaged .515. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Atkins might still be hurting after the 15-0 loss they got from Rockingham County when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Can the Camels avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
