Howard is 9-0-1 against Atholton since May of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Lions will take on the Raiders at 3:30 p.m. Howard will be strutting in after a win while Atholton will be coming in after a defeat.
On Thursday, Howard made easy work of Reservoir and carried off a 13-3 victory. The Lions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine matchups by eight runs or more this season.
Kiersten Black
| 05/01/25 vs Reservoir | 2 |
| 04/30/25 vs Long Reach | 1 |
| 04/29/25 @ Glenelg | 1 |
| 04/28/25 vs Hammond | 1 |
Kiersten Black was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Hadley Coleman was a standout: she got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run and two runs. Meleah Hannie also deserves some recognition as she launched her first home run of the season.
Howard lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Atholton started off well but failed to capitalize on an early lead against Marriotts Ridge. They fell just short of Marriotts Ridge by a score of 6-5 on Wednesday.
Like Howard, Atholton also got a great game from a two-way player: Reagan Law. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over 6.1 innings while giving up four earned (and two unearned) runs off six hits. Law was even better at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Tatiana Maltez-Rosales was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Madeline Skaggs, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Howard is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-6-1 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.5 runs over those games. As for Atholton, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost seven of their last nine games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-9-1 record this season.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Howard hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .399. However, it's not like Atholton struggles in that department as they've averaged .365. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
