The Manatee Hurricanes will challenge the Riverview Sarasota Rams at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Friday, Manatee got the win against Bradenton Christian by a conclusive 21-7. The Hurricanes haven't had any issues with the Panthers recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive victory against them.
Baelee Garland was incredible, firing off two home runs and four RBI while going 2-for-2. That's the most home runs she has posted since back in February of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Jenna Caldwell, who scored three runs while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, Riverview Sarasota put another one in the bag on Friday to keep their perfect season alive. They never let Newsome get on the board and left with a 3-0 win. That's two games straight that the Rams have won by exactly three runs.
The result came thanks to Allison Cole's shutout, as she gave up just three hits and racked up 17 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than ten strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Riverview Sarasota saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sierra Lipton, who scored a run while going 2-for-3. Lipton also hit a double, marking her first of the season.
Riverview Sarasota's victory was their 13th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 4-0. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.7 runs on average over those games. As for Manatee, they now have a winning record of 2-1.
Riverview Sarasota's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Manatee has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .570. It's a different story for Riverview Sarasota, though, as they've only averaged .242. Will they be able to contain Manatee's hitters?
Manatee might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Riverview Sarasota in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will Manatee have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
