The Horseshoe Bend Mustangs will head out on the road to square off against the Notus Pirates at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Horseshoe Bend has given up an average of 13.2 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Garden Valley hit Horseshoe Bend with a six-run second inning on Saturday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Mustangs lost 14-1 to the Wolverines.
Notus hadn't beaten Greenleaf Friends Academy on the road since April 12, 2022 but that history sure didn't bother them on Wednesday. The Pirates blew past the Grizzlies 20-3. The result was nothing new for the Pirates, who have now won nine matches by seven runs or more so far this season.
Emalee Thomas made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over six innings while giving up three earned runs off five hits. Thomas was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-6 with three RBI, one run, and one double. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, Fatima Alvarez was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with four stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 1.2 stolen bases per game. Victoria Zamora was another key player, going 5-for-6 with four runs, four RBI, and one triple.
Notus always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .694. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Greenleaf Friends Academy only posted an OBP of .375.
The win made it two in a row for Notus and bumps their season record up to 10-7. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 20.5 runs over those games. As for Horseshoe Bend, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-9 record this season.
Horseshoe Bend might still be hurting after the 10-2 loss they got from Notus when the teams last played back in April. Can the Mustangs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
