Cooper is 9-1 against Celeste since March of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Tuesday. Cooper will be playing in front of their home fans against Celeste at 5:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Cooper took a ten-run defeat the last time they faced off against Wolfe City, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Cooper skirted past Wolfe City 8-7. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Bulldogs as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.
Kelci Sonntag
| 03/21/25 vs Wolfe City | 6 |
| 03/07/25 @ Saltillo | 4 |
| 02/27/25 @ Gainesville | 3 |
| 03/12/24 vs North Hopkins | 3 |
| 03/07/25 vs Saltillo | 2 |
Kelci Sonntag made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and three unearned) runs off 12 hits (and only one walk). Those six strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Abigail Carter, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in February. Laney Trapp was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one triple.
Cooper kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are 2-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Celeste waltzed into their matchup on Friday with four straight wins... but they left with five. They never let the Bears get on the board and left with a 21-0 win. Give the Blue Devils' pitching crew some credit: that's the team's third straight shutout.
Like Cooper, Celeste also got a great game from a two-way player: Madilen Fronterhouse. She struck out six batters over two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). Fronterhouse has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBI and one triple.
In other batting news, Celeste got a massive performance out of Emily McDaniel, who scored two runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was MaddieClaire Park, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base.
Celeste's victory bumped their record up to 12-7. As for Cooper, their win was their first in the district, bumping their district record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 3-8.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Cooper hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .324. However, it's not like Celeste struggles in that department as they've averaged .419. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Cooper's way against Celeste in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Cooper made off with a 10-0 victory. Will Cooper repeat their success, or does Celeste has a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
