The Apex Friendship Patriots will square off against the Clayton Comets at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Apex Friendship will be looking to extend their current six-game winning streak.
Apex Friendship is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Middle Creek, sneaking past 8-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Patriots have posted since April 10th.
Sydney Joyce
| 05/06/25 vs Middle Creek | 8 |
| 05/02/25 @ Green Level | 3 |
| 04/30/25 @ Apex | 2 |
| 04/25/25 @ Panther Creek | 7 |
| 04/21/25 @ Willow Spring | 0 |
| + 5 more games |
Sydney Joyce was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off nine hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in March. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two triples, one run, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Apex Friendship let Kaylee Marquis and Ella Petersen run wild. Marquis went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI, while Petersen went 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI. That triple marked the first that Marquis has hit this season. Riley Weaver was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one triple and one RBI.
Apex Friendship was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .467. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .364 or higher in six consecutive contests.
Holly Springs typically has all the answers at home, but on Tuesday Clayton proved too difficult a challenge. They walked away with a 7-3 win over the Golden Hawks. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Comets.
Izzy Tart spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 17 Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in 14 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Autumn Joyce was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with two triples and two runs. Another player making a difference was Camryn Mohamed, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
Apex Friendship's victory was their ninth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 18-3. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.3 runs over those games. As for Clayton, their victory bumped their record up to 13-7.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Apex Friendship has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .477. However, it's not like Clayton struggles in that department as they've averaged .443. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
