The St. Albans Red Dragons will head out to challenge the Cabell Midland Knights at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (St. Albans 3.6, Cabell Midland 1) so any runs scored will be well earned.
St. Albans barely beat South Charleston the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Red Dragons were the clear victors by a 13-1 margin over the Black Eagles on Tuesday. That looming 13-1 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Red Dragons yet this season.
Ava Bentley
| 04/01/25 vs South Charleston | 13 |
| 03/29/25 vs Belfry | 8 |
| 03/28/25 @ Wahama | 7 |
| 03/22/25 vs Hoover | 7 |
| 03/21/25 vs Huntington | 12 |
| + 2 more games |
Ava Bentley made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out 13 batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Cece Lackey was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with five RBI and one double. Another player making a difference was Carlee Parker, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
St. Albans always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .625. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Cabell Midland waltzed into their game on Wednesday with five straight wins... but they left with six. They blew past the Fighting Tigers 7-1. The result was nothing new for the Knights, who have now won seven matches by six runs or more so far this season.
Audrea Watts spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on two hits and racked up 18 Ks.
On the hitting side, Cabell Midland let Nicole Harris and Baylee Smith run wild. Harris went 2-for-4 with one home run, two RBI, and one double, while Smith went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. That home run was Smith's first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Ellie McCormill, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-3.
Cabell Midland's win was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-1. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.1 runs on average this season. As for St. Albans, the win got them back to even at 4-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. St. Albans has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Cabell Midland struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 11.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
St. Albans might still be hurting after the 12-4 loss they got from Cabell Midland in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Red Dragons avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
