The Waupaca Comets will face off against the Oconto Falls Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Waupaca fell victim to Freedom and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They lost 10-0 to the Irish. Having soared to a lofty 14 runs in the game before, the Comets' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Oconto Falls, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. They blew past Marinette 14-4 on Tuesday. The Panthers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Randi Metzler was a major factor no matter where she played. She tossed six innings while giving up four earned runs off five hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with four RBI, two runs, and one double. Those runs marked the first that she scored this season.
In other batting news, Oconto Falls got a massive performance out of Maddy Maloney, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and one triple. Maloney also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Ava Salscheider, who scored three runs while going 3-for-4.
Oconto Falls always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .553. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Oconto Falls' first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-4. As for Waupaca, they dropped their record down to 1-4 with the defeat, which was their third straight on the road.
Oconto Falls' pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Waupaca has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .522. It's a different story for Oconto Falls, though, as they've only averaged .314. Will they be able to contain Waupaca's hitters?
Waupaca couldn't quite finish off Oconto Falls when the teams last played back in April of 2024 and fell 2-0. Can the Comets avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
