Needles is a perfect 10-0 against White Pine since May of 2023 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Mustangs will square off against the Bobcats at 1:00 p.m. Needles knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past 13 contests -- so hopefully White Pine likes a good challenge.
Needles is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They put the hurt on Awaken Christian with a sharp 14-4 win. Considering the Mustangs have won 16 games by more than six runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Scotti Powell
| 05/08/25 vs Awaken Christian | 1 |
| 04/23/25 @ GV Christian | 3 |
| 04/22/25 vs Holtville | 1 |
Scotti Powell was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and one stolen base. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Peyton Jackson, who went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.
Needles always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .559. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Awaken Christian only posted an OBP of .417.
Meanwhile, White Pine entered their tilt with Lincoln County on Thursday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They came out on top against the Lynx by a score of 9-6.
Paige Hayward spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up 11 Ks.
On the hitting side, Cecilia Barbosa was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Kendra Derbidge was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
Needles has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won 17 of their last 18 matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 22-6 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.8 runs over those games. As for White Pine, their win bumped their record up to 14-11.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Needles has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .507. However, it's not like White Pine struggles in that department as they've averaged .475. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Needles took their victory against White Pine in their previous meeting back in April by a conclusive 18-8 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Mustangs since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
