Ocoee is 0-4 against The First Academy since April of 2016 but things could change on Thursday. The Knights will be playing in front of their home fans against the Royals at 6:00 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Ocoee comes in on three and The First Academy on four.
While Ocoee's win against Umatilla wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Knights skirted past the Bulldogs 13-12.
Trista Fitzpatrick
| 03/10/26 @ Umatilla | 3 |
| 03/09/26 vs Wekiva | 1 |
| 03/06/26 vs Bishop Moore | 2 |
| 03/03/26 @ Olympia | 1 |
| 02/23/26 vs Innovation | 2 |
| + 4 more games |
The team relied heavily on Trista Fitzpatrick, who went 3-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April of 2025. Zoey Gray was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Ocoee kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive matchups.
While The First Academy didn't have the best season last year (they finished 10-14), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They put the hurt on Harmony with a sharp 14-1 victory on Tuesday. The result was nothing new for the Royals, who have now won six games by six runs or more so far this season.
Emerson Gunkel looked comfortable as she tossed four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, The First Academy let Brianna Kennedy and Luna Taboas run wild. Kennedy went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two doubles, and one run, while Taboas went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Nola-Blair Simmons, who went 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Ocoee's win bumped their record up to 8-2. As for The First Academy, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 8-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Ocoee has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like The First Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.6 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Ocoee might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from The First Academy when the teams last played back in March of 2024. Will the Knights have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
