The Fruitland Grizzlies will challenge the La Grande Tigers at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
If Fruitland beats La Grande with 11 runs on Saturday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. The Grizzlies came out on top against Payette by a score of 11-8 on Wednesday. The Grizzlies haven't had any issues with the Pirates recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Roxy Mason spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned (and two unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up eight Ks. Those hits marked the first that she allowed this season.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Maite Stringer, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3. That hit marked the first that she got this season. Madison Hillman was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, La Grande put another one in the bag on Friday to keep their perfect season alive. They put the hurt on Gladstone with a sharp 11-1 win. Considering the Tigers have won five matchups by more than six runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
La Grande also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Carlee Strand gave up only one earned run on two hits. Strand has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Peyton Daggett was a standout: she scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Marti Anderson, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and four RBI.
Fruitland pushed their record up to 6-5 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.7 runs over those games. As for La Grande, their victory bumped their record up to 7-0.
Saturday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Fruitland hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .320. However, it's not like La Grande struggles in that department as they've averaged .387. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Fruitland suffered a grim 12-0 defeat to La Grande when the teams last played back in April of 2019. Will the Grizzlies have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
