The Brookside Cardinals will head out on the road to square off against the Firelands Falcons at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Brookside has given up an average of 9.7 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Brookside is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 21 runs on Monday, they were much more limited against Columbia on Friday. They lost 11-1 to the Raiders. The Cardinals' loss signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.
Markie-Ann Aliff spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and nine unearned) runs on ten hits.
At the plate, Brookside saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Trinity Arend, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Firelands came up short against Black River on Friday, falling 14-6. The Falcons have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Helen Bolyard and Addison Beal did some serious damage despite the final result: Bolyard went 2-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI, while Beal went 3-for-4 with two RBI. That double was Bolyard's first of the season. Aubrynn Reichle was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one double.
Brookside's defeat dropped their record down to 6-15. As for Firelands, their loss dropped their record down to 8-10.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Brookside has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 6.3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Firelands struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.5 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Brookside couldn't quite get it done against Firelands in their previous matchup back in April as they fell 20-17. Can the Cardinals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
