Lighthouse Private Christian Academy hasn't had much luck against West Florida Baptist Academy recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Stingrays are taking a road trip to take on the Conquerors at 4:30 p.m. Lighthouse Private Christian Academy will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each game than the last.
Lighthouse Private Christian Academy will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they only put up two runs on Monday, then bounced right back against L.E.A.D. Academy on Tuesday. The Stingrays put the hurt on the Lions with a sharp 19-4 win. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Stingrays' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Rylee L was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March. Leila Y also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Meanwhile, West Florida Baptist Academy entered their tilt with Atmore Christian on Tuesday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They blew past the Rams 16-1. Considering the Conquerors have won 11 contests by more than seven runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Riley Scheel made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She struck out nine batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI.
In other batting news, West Florida Baptist Academy let Emery Burke and Aubrey Doyle run wild. Burke went 1-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base, while Doyle went 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Another player making a difference was Ande Johnson, who went 1-for-2 with three runs and one RBI.
West Florida Baptist Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .667. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Atmore Christian only posted an OBP of .062.
Lighthouse Private Christian Academy is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last nine games. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-12 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.9 runs over those games. As for West Florida Baptist Academy, their record is now 15-1.
Thursday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Lighthouse Private Christian Academy has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .600. However, it's not like West Florida Baptist Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .594. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Lighthouse Private Christian Academy might still be hurting after the 19-0 defeat they got from West Florida Baptist Academy in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Stingrays avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
