For the first time this season, Shawnee will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will square off against the Kenton Wildcats at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Shawnee has given up an average of 10.2 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Shawnee will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up one run on Friday, then bounced right back against Crestview on Monday. The Indians came out on top against the Knights by a score of 17-14. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Indians as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.
The team relied heavily on Anna Menke, who fired off two home runs and four RBI while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. What's more, she posted two runs, the most she's had since back in May of 2024. Kacie Carroll also deserves some recognition as she got her first hits of the season.
Shawnee hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Kenton fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against Hardin Northern on Wednesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Polar Bears by a score of 11-9. The Wildcats' defeat continues a trend for the team, making it four in a row dating back to last season.
Alexis Ratliff was huge no matter where she played even without the win. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching six innings while giving up three earned (and three unearned) runs off four hits. Ratliff was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and one RBI.
In other batting news, Riley Totten stepped up to lead a balanced group of hitters: she scored three runs and stole four bases while going 2-for-2. Totten is crushing it when it comes to stolen bases: she's snagged at least one every time she's taken the field this season. Another player making a difference was Brayla Butler, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 4-for-5.
The victory was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 2-4. As for Kenton, their loss dropped their record down to 0-3.
Kenton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Shawnee hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .319. It's a different story for Kenton, though, as they've only averaged .247. Will they be able to contain Shawnee's hitters?
Shawnee couldn't quite finish off Kenton in their previous meeting back in May of 2024 and fell 4-2. Can the Indians avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
