Western Branch and Nansemond River are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2018, but likely not for long. The Bruins will take on the Warriors at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday. Western Branch's pitching crew has only allowed 2.9 runs per game this season, so Nansemond River's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Nansemond River will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Western Branch extended their winning streak to three on Monday. The Bruins came out on top against York by a score of 8-5. That's two games straight that the Bruins have won by exactly three runs.
Haylee Bandura
| 05/12/25 @ York | 2 |
| 05/08/25 vs Hickory | 2 |
| 05/05/25 vs Nansemond-Suffolk Academy | 2 |
| 05/01/25 @ Grassfield | 1 |
| 04/24/25 @ Great Bridge | 2 |
Haylee Bandura looked comfortable as she struck out six batters over three 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 five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Anna Kerns was excellent, going 1-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. That triple marked the first that she has hit this season. Kaileigh Taylor was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one triple.
Western Branch kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in five consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Nansemond River fell victim to Hickory and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They came up short against the Hawks, falling 10-0. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Warriors have suffered since April 24th.
Western Branch pushed their record up to 14-3 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.7 runs on average over those games. As for Nansemond River, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 9-9 record this season.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Western Branch hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .401. However, it's not like Nansemond River struggles in that department as they've averaged .317. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Western Branch's way against Nansemond River in their previous matchup back in March, as Western Branch made off with a 14-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bruins since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
