The La Grande Tigers will square off against the Scappoose Indians on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (La Grande 3.4, Scappoose 2.8) so any runs scored will be well earned.
La Grande is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by an 11-1 margin over Cottage Grove. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won 17 contests by seven runs or more so far this season.
Carlee Strand made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). Strand was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Paige Allen, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and one stolen base. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March. Joselynn Dodds was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Scappoose waltzed into their matchup on Tuesday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They walked away with a 5-2 win over the Gladiators.
Elly Casey spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on two hits and racked up 13 Ks. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Sophia Bloyd was incredible, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one double.
The victory made it two in a row for La Grande and bumps their season record up to 23-1. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 5 runs in those games. As for Scappoose, their victory bumped their record up to 20-6.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. La Grande hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .341. However, it's not like Scappoose struggles in that department as they've averaged .410. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
La Grande couldn't quite finish off Scappoose in their previous meeting back in March of 2015 and fell 3-1. Can the Tigers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
