The Nettleton Tigers will challenge the East Webster Wolverines at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Nettleton's pitching crew has only allowed 1.6 runs per game this season, so East Webster's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Nettleton is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Hatley just ended the team's 16-game winning streak on Friday. They fell just short of Hatley by a score of 1-0. The game marked the first time this season in which Nettleton was not able to get on the board.
Bailey Payne spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up 11 Ks. What's more, she gave up only zero walks, the fewest she's had since March 4th.
On the hitting side, Nettleton saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Josie Smith, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one double.
Meanwhile, East Webster entered their tilt with Aberdeen on Thursday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They never let the Bulldogs get on the board and left with a 16-0 victory. That looming 16-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Wolverines yet this season.
Jasie Rae Flora made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one triple and one RBI.
In other batting news, Faith Edwards was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, two stolen bases, and four RBI. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Waydlee Belle Jones, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-3.
East Webster always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .774. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Nettleton's loss dropped their record down to 18-2-1. As for East Webster, their win bumped their record up to 14-8.
Nettleton skirted past East Webster 7-5 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Does Nettleton have another victory up their sleeve, or will East Webster turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
