The Green Hope Falcons will square off against the Apex Friendship Patriots at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Green Hope has struggled recently with three defeats in a row, while Apex Friendship will arrive with six straight wins.
Tuesday just wasn't the day for Green Hope's offense. They came up short against Holly Springs on Tuesday, falling 7-0. Considering the last time the Falcons couldn't score was back in March, the team can't take the result too hard.
Meanwhile, while Apex Friendship put up plenty of runs on Tuesday, the same can't be said for Middle Creek. The Patriots put the hurt on the Mustangs with a sharp 12-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Patriots, who have now won seven matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Sydney Joyce was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Cheyenne Christman was a standout: she scored two runs while going 2-for-3. Ava Primak was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-2.
Apex Friendship was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .464. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Middle Creek only posted a batting average of .062.
Apex Friendship pushed their record up to 11-2 with the win, which was their sixth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.0 runs over those games. As for Green Hope, their loss dropped their record down to 7-10.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Green Hope has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .451. However, it's not like Apex Friendship struggles in that department as they've averaged .471. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Green Hope suffered a grim 15-3 defeat to Apex Friendship in their previous meeting back in March. Will the Falcons 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.
