The East Aurora Blue Devils will square off against the Wilson Lakemen at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
East Aurora took a loss when they played away from home on Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. Everything went their way against Cleveland Hill as they made off with a 13-1 victory. The win continues a trend for the Blue Devils in their matchups with the Golden Eagles: they've now won three in a row.
Ava ?MJ? Improta was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits (and only one walk). Improta was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and two runs. Those stolen bases were her first of the season.
In other batting news, East Aurora got a massive performance out of Sabrina Sultana, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that Sultana has launched this season. Another player making a difference was Caelan Legg, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Wilson got the win against Akron on Tuesday by a conclusive 17-4. That looming 17-4 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Lakemen yet this season.
Mackenzie Hardy was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with six RBI, two runs, and one triple. Those six RBI gave her a new career-high. Rowan Simpson was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI.
Wilson always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Wilson's victory bumped their record up to 3-1. As for East Aurora, their win bumped their record up to 3-4.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. East Aurora hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .400. However, it's not like Wilson struggles in that department as they've averaged .346. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
East Aurora took their victory against Wilson when the teams last played back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 12-2 score. Do the Blue Devils have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Lakemen turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
