The Smithville Smithies will face off against the Black River Pirates at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
While Smithville's victory against Rittman wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Smithies narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past the Indians 3-2. The Smithies haven't had any issues with the Indians recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
ZeAnna Cyrus made a big impact no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run over seven innings pitched. She also allowed seven hits, marking her first of the season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Black River never got on the board in their matchup last Thursday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Brookside last Monday. They were the clear victors by a 14-5 margin over the Cardinals. Surprisingly, this marked the fourth straight game that the away team has come away the victor.
Like Smithville, Black River also got a great game from a two-way player: Abbey Kiser. On the mound, she struck out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits (and only one walk). Kiser has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, Mia Rosales was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and one double. Another player making a difference was Jenna Dieter, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-5.
Black River kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Brookside only managed five hits.
Smithville's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-3. As for Black River, their record now sits at 2-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Smithville has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.2 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Black River struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Smithville might still be hurting after the 15-2 defeat they got from Black River when the teams last played back in April of 2023. Can the Smithies avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
