Dedham is on a three-game streak of home wins, while Norton is on a six-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. After both having extra time off, the two teams will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Dedham came out on top against Bellingham last Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run third inning. The Marauders were the clear victors by an 8-2 margin over the Blackhawks. The Marauders haven't had any issues with the Blackhawks recently, as the game was their eighth consecutive victory against them.
Julia Walsh spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on nine hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Dedham got a big performance out of Alaina Martin, who went 3-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Joslyn Roberts, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Dedham kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 13 hits in three consecutive games.
Norton came out on top against Blackstone Valley RVT last Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run seventh inning. The Lancers walked away with an 8-4 win over the Beavers.
Liana Danubio made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 12 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. Danubio was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs.
In other batting news, Avery Tinkham was a standout: she went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Gabby Rodriguez was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI.
Norton's victory bumped their record up to 8-1. As for Dedham, their win bumped their record up to 6-3-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Dedham has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Norton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 11 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Dedham suffered a grim 12-4 defeat to Norton in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Will the Marauders 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.
