The Augusta Beavers will challenge the Independence/Gilmanton Indees at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Augusta is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.
Augusta is probably headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder considering McDonell Central just ended the team's nine-game winning streak on Thursday. They lost 6-0 to the Macks. Having soared to a lofty 13 runs in the game before, the Beavers' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Augusta saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Rachel West, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, Independence/Gilmanton never let their opponents score on Tuesday. Everything went their way against Cochrane-Fountain City as they made off with a 7-0 victory. The win was some much needed relief for the Indees as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Not much got past Nora Schank, who gave up just four hits and racked up ten Ks to keep Cochrane-Fountain City off the board. Schank has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Hannah Ekern and Harper Symicek did most of the damage at the plate: Ekern went 1-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base, while Symicek went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double. That triple marked the first that Ekern has hit this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Leah Steagerwald, who went 3-for-4 with one stolen base and one run.
Augusta's defeat dropped their record down to 13-2. As for Independence/Gilmanton, they picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 4-6.
Independence/Gilmanton's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Augusta hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .313. It's a different story for Independence/Gilmanton, though, as they've only averaged .244. Will they be able to contain Augusta's hitters?
Everything went Augusta's way against Independence/Gilmanton when the teams last played back in May of 2025, as Augusta made off with a 14-4 win. Do the Beavers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Indees turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
