Irondale is 0-5 against White Bear Lake since April of 2022 but things could change on Tuesday. The Knights are taking a road trip to take on the Bears at 4:30 p.m.
Irondale made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Stillwater, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Knights fell just short of the Ponies by a score of 4-2 on Monday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest defeat the Knights have suffered since April 12, 2024.
Irondale saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Adahlia Eames, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run. Another was Audrey Smith, who went 1-for-2 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask White Bear Lake). They were the clear victors by an 18-10 margin over Mounds View on Monday. The win continues a trend for the Bears in their matchups with the Mustangs: they've now won eight in a row.
Kendall Kotzmacher and Maddy Belisle did most of the damage at the plate: Kotzmacher went 2-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI, while Belisle got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run and three runs. That home run was Kotzmacher's first of the season. Lauren Elias was another key player, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with three runs and one double.
White Bear Lake always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .543. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
White Bear Lake's record now sits at 2-4. As for Irondale, their loss dropped their record down to 1-7.
Irondale's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's match. The Knights have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.8 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for White Bear Lake, though, as they've been averaging only 0.3 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Irondale continue to outrun the ball?
Irondale suffered a grim 17-1 defeat to White Bear Lake in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Knights avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
