It was a good run, but Wesley Chapel unfortunately witnessed the end of their four-game winning streak on Thursday. They fell just short of the River Ridge Royal Knights by a score of 7-6. The result was an unpleasant reminder to Wesley Chapel of the 6-5 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in May of 2023.
Alana Claros was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: she pitched 4.2 innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits.
On the hitting side, Juliana Martin was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run while going 2-for-4. Ava Blakely was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-4.
On River Ridge's side, Lillian Jackson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and one unearned) runs on six hits. Jackson has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't pitched less than six innings in three consecutive pitching appearances.
At the plate, Jacqleen Golden was incredible, going 3-for-4 with two runs, a triple, and a stolen base. Another player making a difference was Emma Bell, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 3-for-4.
Wesley Chapel's defeat ended a four-game streak of away wins and brought them to 6-6. As for River Ridge, their win bumped their record up to 9-5.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. After both having extra time off, Wesley Chapel and Sunlake will dust off their jerseys to take on one another at 7:00 p.m. on April 2nd. Sunlake's pitching crew has only allowed 3.5 runs per game this season, so Wesley Chapel's hitters will have their work cut out for them. As for River Ridge, they will have some time to savor their victory since their next game is a little ways off: they'll take on Calvary Christian at 6:00 p.m. on April 2nd.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
