The Barberton Magics will challenge the Revere Minutemen at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Barberton has given up an average of 7.6 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Barberton fell victim to Aurora and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They came up short against the Greenmen, falling 13-0. The Magics have struggled against the Greenmen recently, as the game was their ninth consecutive lost meeting.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but Revere ultimately got the result they hoped for on Tuesday. They skirted past Tallmadge 6-4. The victory was nothing new for the Minutemen as they're now sitting on four straight.
Ashley Gardner spent all nine innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on 11 hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Paige Kelley, who went 4-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and two doubles. Sydney Firca was another key player, going 3-for-5 with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Revere kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in nine consecutive games.
Revere pushed their record up to 9-2 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Barberton, their defeat dropped their record down to 4-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Barberton has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Revere struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Barberton's way against Revere when the teams last played back in May of 2024, as Barberton made off with a 9-3 win. Do the Magics have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Minutemen turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
