The Cedarcrest Red Wolves will head out to take on the Nathan Hale Raiders at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Cedarcrest has given up an average of 9.1 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Cedarcrest came up short against Lynden two weeks ago, falling 11-3. The Red Wolves have struggled against the Lions recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost matchup.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Nathan Hale). They put the hurt on Chief Sealth with a sharp 24-15 victory on Wednesday. The win continues a trend for the Raiders in their matchups with the Seahawks: they've now won six in a row.
Ellen Belknap made a splash no matter where she played. She struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, going 4-for-5 with four runs, two stolen bases, and two doubles. Those four hits gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Amelia Spencer, who went 4-for-6 with three runs, four RBI, and one triple. That's the most hits she has posted since back in May of 2025. Another player making a difference was Kalea Sowers, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, two doubles, and one triple.
Nathan Hale kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 21 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in five consecutive contests.
Nathan Hale's victory bumped their record up to 6-13. As for Cedarcrest, their loss dropped their record down to 9-8.
Nathan Hale's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Cedarcrest has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.2 hits per game. It's a different story for Nathan Hale, though, as they've been averaging 9.4 hits. Given Cedarcrest's sizable advantage in that area, the Raiders will need to find a way to close that gap.
Cedarcrest got the 'W' when the teams last played back in May of 2025 against Nathan Hale by a conclusive 11-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Red Wolves since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
