The Martin County Tigers are taking a road trip to face off against the Okeechobee Brahmans at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Martin County knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Okeechobee likes a good challenge.
While Martin County's win against Bayside wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Tigers skirted past the Bears 10-8. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Tigers have posted since March 14th.
The team relied heavily on Kalei Bertke, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs, three RBI, and two doubles. She continues to improve, besting her previous run total in each of the last three games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Ciana Vargas, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, two doubles, and one stolen base.
Martin County always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .553. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .529 or higher in three consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, after soaring to ten runs the game before, Okeechobee was a bit more limited in their game on Tuesday. They came up short against Melbourne Central Catholic, falling 11-1.
Okeechobee saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Melaine Bonilla, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one double.
Martin County's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-9. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.7 runs over those games. As for Okeechobee, they have been struggling recently as they've lost nine of their last 12 contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 6-13 record this season.
Okeechobee's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Martin County has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .483. It's a different story for Okeechobee, though, as they've only averaged .332. Will they be able to contain Martin County's hitters?
Martin County skirted past Okeechobee 13-12 in their previous matchup back in March of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
