Overland hasn't had much luck against Smoky Hill recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Trailblazers will host the Buffaloes at 4:00 p.m. Overland is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11.5 runs per game this season.
Overland couldn't beat Douglas County on Saturday even though they stacked five runs on them in the sixth inning. The Trailblazers fell just short of the Huskies by a score of 9-8.
Overland saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Michaela Halton, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Another was Sasha Davis, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs.
Smoky Hill never got on the board in their matchup on Thursday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Doherty on Saturday. They blew past the Spartans 12-6. Considering the Buffaloes' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Kadynce Schutt made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and four unearned) runs off eight hits. Those nine strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her five plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.
In other batting news, Nikiah Light was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one double. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. Ellen Paris was another key player, going 3-for-5 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base.
Smoky Hill kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Doherty only managed ten.
Overland's defeat dropped their record down to 6-4. As for Smoky Hill, their win bumped their record up to 7-12.
Smoky Hill's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Overland has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 11 hits per game. It's a different story for Smoky Hill, though, as they've been averaging 12.1 hits. Given Overland's sizable advantage in that area, the Buffaloes will need to find a way to close that gap.
Overland suffered a grim 17-0 defeat to Smoky Hill in their previous matchup back in September of 2020. Will the Trailblazers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
