For the second straight game, Kermit will face off against Shallowater. The Yellow Jackets will take on the Mustangs at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Kermit has given up an average of 8.5 runs per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Kermit heads in on the heels of a playoff contest on Tuesday. They lost 14-1 to Shallowater. Having soared to a lofty 15 runs in the game before, the Yellow Jackets couldn't push the score so high this time.
For Shallowater's part, Gracie Banks made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. Banks has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Peyton Ramirez was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Kynsi Sue, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and one double.
Shallowater was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .483. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .306 or higher in six consecutive matchups.
Shallowater is on a roll lately: they've won 13 of their last 14 games. That's provided a massive bump to their 21-10-1 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for Kermit, their defeat dropped their record down to 12-15-1.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Kermit has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .491. However, it's not like Shallowater struggles in that department as they've averaged .471. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.