Rock Ridge is 0-7 against Loudoun Valley since April of 2016 but things could change on Thursday. The Phoenix will venture away from home to face off against the Vikings at 6:30 p.m. Rock Ridge has given up an average of 10.7 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Rock Ridge came up short against Tuscarora on Wednesday, falling 18-2. The Phoenix have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Rock Ridge saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Riya Cherukuri, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Loudoun Valley). They blew past Dominion 21-4 on Thursday. The result was nothing new for the Vikings, who have now won five matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.
Hailey White and Maddie Howell made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, White pitched three innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. Meanwhile, Howell tossed two innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. White has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. At the plate, White got on base in three of her four plate appearances with three runs, two RBI, and one double, while Howell went 1-for-4 with two RBI and one run. Those two RBI gave Howell a new career-high.
In other batting news, Loudoun Valley got a massive performance out of Anna Ramos, who fired off two home runs, seven RBI, and three runs while going 3-for-3. Those seven RBI gave Ramos a new career-high. Kayla Dunkerley was another key player, getting on base in all five of her plate appearances with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Loudoun Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .711. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
The victory made it two in a row for Loudoun Valley and bumps their season record up to 6-7. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 5 runs in those games. As for Rock Ridge, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-10.
Rock Ridge came up short against Loudoun Valley when the teams last played back in April of 2023, falling 7-2. Can the Phoenix avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
