The West Greene Pioneers will take on the Columbiana Clippers at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. West Greene will be looking to extend their current three-game winning streak.
On Thursday, West Greene beat Mayfield 6-3.
Payton Gilbert spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on three hits and racked up six Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, West Greene saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Emmaline Beazell, who scored a run while going 1-for-2. Another was Katie Brudnock, who went 1-for-2 with three RBI.
Meanwhile, Columbiana put another one in the bag on Thursday to keep their perfect season alive. They put the hurt on Germantown Friends with a sharp 12-2 win.
Caitlynn Pleska made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 11 batters over five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Those 11 strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Maryn Hepler, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-3. Ella Dota was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
West Greene's record now sits at 3-0. As for Columbiana, their record is now an identical 3-0.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. West Greene has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .484. However, it's not like Columbiana struggles in that department as they've averaged .458. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.