The Oakleaf Knights will take on the Baldwin Indians at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
While Oakleaf's victory against Ridgeview wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Knights had just enough and edged out the Panthers 5-3. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since February 18, 2021, but that streak is no more.
Charlotte Maddox was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching three innings while giving up no earned runs off four hits. Maddox was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one RBI.
In other batting news, Jaydyn Beall was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4. Ava Tolbert was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, Baldwin entered their tilt with Atlantic Coast on Thursday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They were the clear victors by a 9-2 margin over the Stingrays. Considering the Indians have won eight games by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Oakleaf, Baldwin also got a great game from a two-way player: Hayden Peebles. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. Peebles has been consistent : she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run. That home run was her first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jazmine Ramos-Merced, who fired off two home runs and five RBI while going 2-for-4. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Kendall North, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 1-for-5.
Baldwin was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .429. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Atlantic Coast only posted a batting average of .167.
Oakleaf's win bumped their record up to 8-11. As for Baldwin, their victory bumped their record up to 14-4.
Oakleaf skirted past Baldwin 4-2 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Will the Knights repeat their success, or do the Indians have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
