Destin hasn't had much luck against Central recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Sharks will look to defend their home field against the Jaguars at 5:00 p.m. Destin is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.9 runs per game this season.
Last Tuesday, Destin made easy work of Lighthouse Private Christian Academy and carried off a 16-1 victory. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Sharks.
Aspen Benscoter made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit (and only one walk). Benscoter was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while going 1-for-2.
Anita Palmer
| 04/01/25 vs Lighthouse Private Christian Academy | 4 |
| 03/28/25 @ Booker T. Washington | 3 |
| 03/06/25 @ Lighthouse Private Christian Academy | 3 |
| 03/05/25 vs Escambia | 3 |
| 02/27/25 vs Mosley | 3 |
In other batting news, Destin let Anita Palmer and Keelie Ellis run wild. Palmer went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, two doubles, and one triple, while Ellis scored three runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-3. Those four hits gave Palmer a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Emma Grisoff, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Destin was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .519. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Central, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Monday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Baker a 5-0 shutout on Tuesday.
Shelby Zigler was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over seven innings pitched. Zigler was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tenley Smarr, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one double.
Central's win bumped their record up to 8-5. As for Destin, their victory bumped their record up to 10-5.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Destin has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Everything went Destin's way against Central when the teams last played back in March, as Destin made off with a 13-3 win. Do the Sharks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Jaguars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
