Central hasn't had much luck against Crystal River recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Bears will look to defend their home field against the Pirates at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Tuesday, Central got the win against Seven Rivers Christian by a conclusive 22-8. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Bears.
Jaida Childs
| 02/24/26 @ Seven Rivers Christian | 3 |
| 04/16/25 vs Anclote | 2 |
| 03/28/25 @ Weeki Wachee | 2 |
| 02/20/26 @ West Port | 1 |
| 03/27/25 @ Anclote | 1 |
Jaida Childs was a major factor no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Childs was even better at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and two doubles. Those three RBI gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Yianna Casiano, who went 3-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March of 2025. Jacey Garlock was another key player, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Central was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .548. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Seven Rivers Christian only posted a batting average of .368.
Meanwhile, Crystal River owes their pitching crew a big pat on the back after their performance on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past South Sumter 1-0. The victory continues a trend for the Pirates in their matchups with the Raiders: they've now won six in a row.
The result came thanks to Violet Flynn's shutout, as she gave up just three hits and racked up 17 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up a single earned run any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, Crystal River's win was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Matti Patrick, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Crystal River's victory bumped their record up to 3-0. As for Central, they now have a winning record of 2-1.
Crystal River's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .421. It's a different story for Crystal River, though, as they've only averaged .224. Will they be able to contain Central's hitters?
Central might still be hurting after the 15-6 loss they got from Crystal River in their previous meeting back in March of 2025. Will the Bears have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
