The North County Raiders will face off against the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The timing isn't great for North County: they have been struggling with three straight losses at home, while Saxony Lutheran has snatched up four consecutive wins on the road.
On Tuesday, North County made easy work of Neelyville and carried off a 21-5 victory.
Olivia Jaco (Jr) spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned runs on six hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Ava McClure (So), who fired off two home runs, eight RBI, and one triple while going 5-for-6. Sophie Rackley (So) was another key player, going 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: North County kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 26 hits. They are 3-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Saxony Lutheran got the win against Jefferson on Wednesday by a conclusive 9-3. The Crusaders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six matchups by six runs or more this season.
Ansley Palisch was incredible, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double. Another player making a difference was Jenna Unterreiner, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
North County's win bumped their record up to 6-9. As for Saxony Lutheran, their victory bumped their record up to 6-4.
Both the two teams just can't seem to miss. North County has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.7 hits per game. However, it's not like Saxony Lutheran struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 5.3 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
North County might still be hurting after the 11-1 defeat they got from Saxony Lutheran in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. Will the Raiders 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.
