The Northside Vikings are on the road again on Friday to play the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers at 5:30 p.m. Northside is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
Northside's hitters might be in the hot seat on Friday considering what happened against Staunton River on Tuesday. They fell victim to a tough 8-0 loss at the hands of the Golden Eagles. The match marked the first time this season in which Northside was not able to get on the board.
Northside saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Camden Spangler, who went 1-for-2 with a double.
Meanwhile, Lord Botetourt came tearing into Wednesday's game with four straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 5.3 runs) and they left with even more momentum. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-1 victory over the Titans.
Caleb O'Quinn spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered one run (which was unearned) on three hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances.
At the plate, JJ Tyree was excellent, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Noah Donaho, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with an RBI.
Northside has been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 7-5 record this season. As for Lord Botetourt, they pushed their record up to 6-2 with that win, which was their third straight at home.
Northside's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's matchup. Northside has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Lord Botetourt, though, as they've been averaging only 0.6. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Northside continue to outrun the ball?
Northside might still be hurting after the 12-6 defeat they got from Lord Botetourt when the teams last played back in May of 2023. Can Northside avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
