Goochland is preparing for their first region matchup of the season on Tuesday. After both having extra time off, they and the Monticello Mustangs will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 6:30 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Goochland comes in on three and Monticello on four.
While Goochland's victory against William Monroe wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Bulldogs sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-5 win over the Dragons last Tuesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Bulldogs have posted since April 10, 2024.
Ryleigh Shapiro was incredible, going 2-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. That home run marked the first that she launched this season. Ellie Toney was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
Shapiro wasn't the only one making solid contact: Goochland kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Monticello won against Cumberland back in March with 18 runs and they decided to stick to that run total again two weeks ago. The Mustangs beat James River Midlothian by the very same score they won with in their prior game: 18-1. Fans of the Mustangs have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 6+ runs.
The team relied heavily on Willow Barr, who scored four runs while going 3-for-4. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in doubles (two). Another player making a difference was Delaney Via, who scored three runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Monticello pushed their record up to 4-0 with the win, which was their tenth straight at home dating back to last season. As for Goochland, their record now sits at 4-1.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Goochland hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .338. However, it's not like Monticello struggles in that department as they've averaged .329. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Goochland couldn't quite finish off Monticello when the teams last played back in April of 2024 and fell 2-0. Can the Bulldogs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
