The Raymond/South Bend Ravens will head out on the road to take on the Napavine Tigers at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Last Tuesday, Raymond/South Bend made easy work of Ilwaco and carried off a 20-6 victory. The Ravens haven't had any issues with the Fishermen recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
Raymond/South Bend got a massive performance out of Ava Pine, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, three doubles, and four RBI. That home run was Pine's first of the season. Another player making a difference was Macey Enlow, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
Raymond/South Bend was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .606. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Napavine entered their tilt with Mossyrock on Thursday with three consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with four. They walked away with a 15-10 victory over the Vikings.
Dakota Lyons was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and seven unearned) runs off 11 hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than one walk in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while getting on base in four of her six plate appearances.
In other batting news, Taylen Evander was a standout: she scored a run while going 4-for-6. Lyla Kirkpatrick was another key player, scoring three runs while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances.
Napavine pushed their record up to 6-2-1 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.3 runs over those games. As for Raymond/South Bend, their record is now 6-1.
Friday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Raymond/South Bend has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .555. However, it's not like Napavine 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.
Raymond/South Bend skirted past Napavine 10-8 in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Ravens since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
