The Richwoods Knights will head out to face off against the Champaign Central Maroons at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Richwoods has given up an average of 10.2 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Richwoods came up short against Dunlap on Saturday, falling 12-5.
Lydia Day was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one double. That double marked the first that she has hit this season.
Meanwhile, Champaign Central hadn't done well against Effingham recently (they were 0-5 in their previous five matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Maroons were the clear victors by a 13-1 margin over the Hearts. The Maroons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by ten runs or more this season.
Haley Helm made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Molly Kloeppel, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and three RBI while going 3-for-3. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Grace Bandy, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and one run.
Champaign Central kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 14 consecutive matchups dating back to last season.
Champaign Central's win was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 11-1. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Richwoods, their loss dropped their record down to 2-8.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Richwoods hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .318. However, it's not like Champaign Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .477. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Richwoods suffered a grim 19-3 defeat to Champaign Central in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Knights avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
