Bruton hasn't had much luck against New Kent recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Panthers will welcome the Trojans at 4:30 p.m. Bruton has given up an average of 18.9 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Bruton is headed into Wednesday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their third straight game on Friday. They came up short against Grafton, falling 17-7.
Bruton saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Madyson Califano, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. That triple marked the first that Califano has hit this season. Rosalie Lightner was another, going 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and one run.
Meanwhile, New Kent entered their tilt with Tabb on Friday with four consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with five. They were the clear victors by a 14-2 margin over the Tigers. Considering the Trojans have won ten contests by more than seven runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Abbie Kegley was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing five innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits. Kegley was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Brooklyn Wiles and Hannah Tober did most of the damage at the plate: Wiles got on base in all three of her plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI, while Tober went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. That's the most stolen bases Wiles has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Kendall White, who went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
New Kent hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters in nine consecutive games.
New Kent's win was their seventh straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-3. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.0 runs over those games. As for Bruton, their loss dropped their record down to 3-13.
Bruton's speedy runners might be the difference in Wednesday's match. The Panthers have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 9.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for New Kent, though, as they've been averaging an even more impressive 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Bruton continue to outrun the ball?
Bruton suffered a grim 25-1 defeat to New Kent in their previous matchup back in March. Will the Panthers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
