Hale Ray is 0-10 against North Branford since May of 2017 but things could change on Monday. The Noises will host the Thunderbirds at 4:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Hale Ray's usually-dominant pitching crew will be looking to make up for Friday's struggle, when Valley Regional hitters got past them. The Noises fell just short of the Warriors by a score of 12-11 on Friday.
Jackie Goetz stepped up to lead a balanced group of hitters: she went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Briella Dean, who went 2-for-4 with three runs, one triple, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, North Branford put another one in the bag on Thursday to keep their perfect season alive. They were the clear victors by a 19-1 margin over Westbrook. The Thunderbirds might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six matches by seven runs or more this season.
Adrienne Frost was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out seven over four innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one hit in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
In other batting news, North Branford got a massive performance out of Adriana Hills, who went 2-for-4 with two triples, four RBI, and two runs. Those two triples gave Hills a new career-high. Lily Ardito was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI.
North Branford always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .641. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive games.
North Branford's win was their 12th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-0. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Hale Ray, their loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 6-1 and their overall record down to 8-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Hale Ray has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.2 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like North Branford struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Hale Ray couldn't quite finish off North Branford in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 and fell 3-1. Will the Noises 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.
