Softball Game Preview: Clay Blue Devils vs. Creekside Knights

The Clay Blue Devils are taking a road trip to challenge the Creekside Knights at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Clay will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each game than the last.

Clay's pitching crew heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Monday. They blew past St. Augustine 13-0. The result was nothing new for the Blue Devils, who have now won six matches by eight runs or more so far this season.

Sadie Russo tossed a big game, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out nine over five innings pitched. Those nine strikeouts gave her a new career-high.

Kaitlyn Howell

Stolen Base (Career)

04/07/25 @ St. Augustine	4
03/19/24 @ St. Augustine	3
02/28/25 vs Trinity Christian Academy	2
04/29/24 vs St. Augustine	2
04/25/24 vs St. Augustine	2

At the plate, Kaitlyn Howell was a standout: she scored three runs and stole four bases while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances. Those four stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Brooke Hamilton, who scored two runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.

Clay always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .641. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Meanwhile, Creekside lost 9-3 to Episcopal School of Jacksonville on Tuesday. The Knights have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Arianna Carrigan was huge no matter where she played even without the win. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off four hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 12 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two RBI.

Carrigan wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Hailey Cunningham, who scored a run while going 2-for-4.

Clay has been performing well recently as they've won nine of their last 12 games. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-6 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Creekside, their loss dropped their record down to 11-7.

Clay might still be hurting after the 13-4 defeat they got from Creekside when the teams last played back in February of 2024. Can the Blue Devils avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.