The Pine Tree Pirates will head out on the road to square off against the Henderson Lions at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Pine Tree will be strutting in after a victory while Henderson will be coming in after a defeat.
Pine Tree was handed a heart-breaking two-run loss in their last game, but they sure didn't let that happen against Chapel Hill on Friday. The Pirates' pitcher stepped up to hand the Bulldogs a 15-0 shutout. That 15-run margin sets a new team best for the Pirates this season.
Ma'Kayla Rougely made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Rougely was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. She also snagged a stolen base, marking her first of the season.
In other batting news, Pine Tree let Blair Schroeder and Zamora Smith run wild. Schroeder went 2-for-3 with two triples, three runs, and one RBI, while Smith went a perfect 4-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. Those two triples gave Schroeder a new career-high. Lily Dodson was another key player, going 1-for-3 with three RBI, one run, and one double.
Pine Tree always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .594. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 17 runs the game before, Henderson was a bit more limited in their matchup on Friday. They came up short against Hudson, falling 18-1. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Lions, who until this contest were averaging 3.33 runs allowed.
Pine Tree moved to 6-8 with that win, which also ended their three-game losing streak. As for Henderson, their defeat dropped their record down to 13-7-1.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Pine Tree hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .313. However, it's not like Henderson struggles in that department as they've averaged .325. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pine Tree might still be hurting after the 9-1 loss they got from Henderson when the teams last played back in April of 2025. Can the Pirates avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
