The Belchertown Orioles will venture away from home to take on the Northampton Blue Devils at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Belchertown knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past three games -- so hopefully Northampton likes a good challenge.
On Monday, Belchertown made easy work of Easthampton/Hampshire and carried off a 13-1 win. The result was nothing new for the Orioles, who have now won four matchups by nine runs or more so far this season.
Madeline Williams spent all six innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on six hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Sophia Mitus, who went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases, two triples, and three runs. Those stolen bases marked the first that she has snagged this season. Another player making a difference was Cassidy MacLean, who went 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Belchertown kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Northampton's offense. They took a 4-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of Ludlow on Friday. Having soared to a lofty 13 runs in the game before, the Blue Devils' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Northampton saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Emily Kajka, who went 1-for-3 with one double.
Belchertown's record now sits at 4-1. As for Northampton, their defeat was their first of the season and also makes their record 4-1.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Belchertown has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 7.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Northampton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Belchertown came up short against Northampton in their previous meeting back in April of 2023, falling 10-5. Can the Orioles avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
