The Elkins Tigers will venture away from home to challenge the Grafton Bearcats at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Elkins came out on top against Fairmont Senior on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run fourth inning. The Tigers took their game against the Polar Bears 12-8. The game was the first time the Tigers have beaten the Polar Bears on their field since April 2, 2019.
Meanwhile, Grafton had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 5.3 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Thursday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand the Polar Bears an 11-0 shutout. Considering the Bearcats have won 11 contests by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Lillie Crimm was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than one walk in ten consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, Ruth Horne was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one double. She continues to improve, besting her previous run total in each of the last three games she's played. Isabella Hayhurst was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Grafton hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in four consecutive matches.
Grafton's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 15-6-1. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.6 runs over those games. As for Elkins, the victory made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 7-13.
Elkins might still be hurting after the 7-0 defeat they got from Grafton when the teams last played on Wednesday. Can the Tigers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
