For the second straight game, Celeste will face off against North Hopkins. The Blue Devils will challenge the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Celeste's pitching crew has only allowed 3.5 runs per game this season, so North Hopkins' hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Celeste is probably headed into the game with a chip on their shoulder considering North Hopkins just ended the team's nine-game winning streak on Tuesday. They took a 6-3 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Panthers.
For North Hopkins' part, Daylee Fite was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up three earned runs off 15 hits. Fite has been consistent : she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Taryne Loyd, who scored two runs while going 1-for-2. Another player making a difference was Ailee McArthur, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-3.
The win was the third in a row for North Hopkins, bringing their record up to 9-2. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Celeste, they suffered their first home loss, dropping their record down to 16-8.
North Hopkins' pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Celeste has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.9 hits per game. It's a different story for North Hopkins, though, as they've been averaging 8.8 hits. Given Celeste's sizable advantage in that area, the Panthers will need to find a way to close that gap. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
