The Brownstown Central Braves will square off against the Columbus North Bull Dogs at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Brownstown Central is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.3 runs per game this season.
Brownstown Central will bounce into Monday's game after beating Jeffersonville, who they had gone 0-3 against in their three prior meetings. The Braves put the hurt on the Red Devils with a sharp 8-1 victory on Saturday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Braves.
Shyla Steele spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up seven Ks.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Kinzee Dean, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one run, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Alex Davidson, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
Brownstown Central hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are 2-1 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Columbus North was able to grind out a solid win over Jennings County on Saturday, taking the game 6-2.
Bailee Scruggs made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing 6.1 innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Miley McClellan was excellent, going 1-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI. Avery Shehan was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one run and one double.
Columbus North pushed their record up to 8-9 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.3 runs over those games. As for Brownstown Central, their victory bumped their record up to 8-11.
Monday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Brownstown Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .328. However, it's not like Columbus North struggles in that department as they've averaged .315. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Brownstown Central couldn't quite finish off Columbus North when the teams last played back in May of 2024 and fell 5-3. Will the Braves have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
