Cleveland Heights hasn't had much luck against Mentor recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Tigers will be playing at home against the Cardinals at 5:00 p.m. Cleveland Heights has given up an average of 14.6 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Cleveland Heights came up short against Shaker Heights on Monday, falling 15-4.
Cleveland Heights saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sheridan Sweeney, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one double. That double was Sweeney's first of the season.
Meanwhile, Mentor came tearing into Tuesday's matchup with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.2 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They put the hurt on the Battling Bees with a sharp 14-8 victory. Considering the Cardinals have won seven contests by more than five runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Maggie Haydu made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-5 with three runs and one RBI. Those three runs gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Sophia Smalley was incredible, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in May of 2024. Gabi Dadante was another key player, going 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Mentor was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Medina only posted a batting average of .259.
Mentor pushed their record up to 12-7 with the win, which was their fifth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.0 runs over those games. As for Cleveland Heights, their loss dropped their record down to 3-5.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Cleveland Heights hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .420. However, it's not like Mentor struggles in that department as they've averaged .318. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Cleveland Heights might still be hurting after the 10-2 defeat they got from Mentor when the teams last played on April 7th. Will the Tigers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
