Coalfield is 1-9 against Oliver Springs since April of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets will welcome the Bobcats at 6:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Coalfield made up a huge gap compared to their last game against King's Academy, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Yellow Jackets were the clear victors by a 12-1 margin over the Lions last Thursday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Yellow Jackets considering their two-run performance the matchup before.
Olivia Laymance spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on three hits and racked up 13 Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Coalfield got a massive performance out of Lilly Claire Lowe, who scored four runs while going 2-for-3. Lowe also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Gracie Davis, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one RBI.
Coalfield hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least five batters in six consecutive games.
Meanwhile, while Oliver Springs put up plenty of runs on Friday, the same can't be said for Jellico. The Bobcats blew past the Blue Devils 15-0. That's two games straight that the Bobcats have won by exactly 15 runs.
Chyanne Ray was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted over her last seven contests. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with five RBI and one run.
In other batting news, Oliver Springs let Emmeline Patton and Carlee Gallaher run wild. Patton scored two runs while going 3-for-3, while Gallaher went 1-for-2 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. That's the most hits Patton has posted since back in May of 2024. Hannah McKinney was another key player, scoring a run while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
Coalfield's victory bumped their record up to 10-2-1. As for Oliver Springs, they now have a winning record of 7-6.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Coalfield hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .340. However, it's not like Oliver Springs struggles in that department as they've averaged .324. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Coalfield skirted past Oliver Springs 5-3 when the teams last played back in March. Do the Yellow Jackets have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bobcats turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
