Willow Spring and Cleveland are an even 3-3 against one another since April of 2022, but likely not for long. The Willow Spring Storm will take on the Cleveland Rams at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Cleveland's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Friday: Willow Spring hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. Willow Spring never let Apex get on the board and left with a 10-0 victory on Wednesday. The win continues a trend for the Storm in their matchups with the Cougars: they've now won three in a row.
Carly Simon
| 03/19/25 @ Apex | 2 |
| 03/18/25 vs South Garner | 1 |
| 03/14/25 vs Southeast Raleigh | 1 |
| 03/11/25 vs Clayton | 1 |
| 02/28/25 vs Green Level | 1 |
Carly Simon was incredible, scoring a run while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. The dominant performance also gave her a new career-high in doubles (two). Georgia Miller was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Willow Spring always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .526. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Apex only posted an OBP of .304.
Meanwhile, Cleveland made easy work of Corinth Holders on Tuesday and carried off an 11-2 victory. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Rams.
Karsyn Hudacky spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on four hits and racked up 13 Ks. She has been consistent : she hasn't tossed less than ten strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Maddie Murphy, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and three RBI while going 2-for-3. Gracie Ritchie also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Willow Spring's record is now 7-2. As for Cleveland, their record now sits at 5-3.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Willow Spring has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .500. However, it's not like Cleveland struggles in that department as they've averaged .450. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Willow Spring skirted past Cleveland 9-7 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for Willow Spring since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
