The DeLand Bulldogs will square off against the South Sumter Raiders at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. DeLand will be strutting in after a victory while South Sumter will be coming in after a defeat.
DeLand had to travel to play their first game of the season, but the final result was worth the trip. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-4 win over Innovation on Tuesday.
Hailey Whidden
| 02/18/25 @ Innovation | 9 |
| 04/13/24 vs Flagler Palm Coast | 8 |
| 04/29/24 @ West Port | 7 |
| 04/12/24 vs Seabreeze | 7 |
| 04/10/24 @ Atlantic | 7 |
Hailey Whidden spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and three unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up nine Ks. Those nine strikeouts gave her a new career-high.
On the hitting side, De-Niya Padgett was incredible, firing off two home runs and four RBI while going 2-for-4. That's the most home runs she has posted since back in February of 2024. Brianne Yocum was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, South Sumter unfortunately couldn't capitalize on their home-field advantage in their season opener. They came up short against Crystal River on Thursday, falling 7-0. The Raiders have struggled against the Pirates recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost matchup.
DeLand skirted past South Sumter 11-10 in their previous meeting back in February of 2024. Does DeLand have another victory up their sleeve, or will South Sumter turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
