Clarksville Christian is 0-10 against Zion Christian Academy since April of 2022 but things could change on Saturday. The Centurions will take on the Eagles at 11:00 a.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Clarksville Christian is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They blew past Christian Community 12-2. The victory continues a trend for the Centurions in their matchups with the Colts: they've now won three in a row.
Avah Sams made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one double.
In other batting news, Clarksville Christian let Jada James and Charlese Teasley run wild. James went 3-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double, while Teasley went 3-for-4 with four runs and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Farrah Waller, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI.
Clarksville Christian hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in nine consecutive matches.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Zion Christian Academy and Riverside Christian Academy, and Zion Christian Academy kept the tradition alive. The Eagles' pitcher stepped up to hand Riverside Christian Academy a 10-0 shutout last Thursday. That's two games straight that the Eagles have won by exactly ten runs.
Marleigh McWilliams made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. McWilliams was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one home run.
In other batting news, Zion Christian Academy got a massive performance out of Leighla Rains, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and two runs. That's the most stolen bases Rains has posted since back in March. Charlee Cheek also deserves some recognition as she launched her first home run of the season.
Clarksville Christian pushed their record up to 16-5 with the win, which was their sixth straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.5 runs over those games. As for Zion Christian Academy, they are on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight games. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-7 record this season.
Saturday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Clarksville Christian has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .533. However, it's not like Zion Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .456. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Clarksville Christian suffered a grim 10-3 defeat to Zion Christian Academy when the teams last played back in April. Can the Centurions avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
