The Leavitt Hornets will challenge the Buckfield Bucks at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Leavitt sitting on 11 straight wins and Buckfield on eight.
Buckfield's hitters are going to have their work cut out for them on Thursday: Leavitt hadn't allowed a single run the last three times they've hit the field. Everything went the Hornets' way against Lake Region on Tuesday as they made off with a 6-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Hornets, who have now won eight matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Reese Bilodeau
| 05/20/25 @ Lake Region | 2 |
| 05/16/25 vs Morse | 1 |
| 05/05/25 vs Gray-New Gloucester | 0 |
Reese Bilodeau made a big impact no matter where she played. She tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one run.
Bilodeau wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Elizabeth Kowalski, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. Kowalski is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Brook Boutaugh also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Leavitt hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least two batters in three consecutive contests.
Five must be Buckfield's lucky number: they beat Sacopee Valley with that score not once but twice on Tuesday. The Bucks didn't even let the Hawks on the board, marking the Bucks' second-straight 5-0 shutout.
Buckfield pushed their record up to 8-1 with the win, which was their fourth straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.8 runs on average over those games. As for Leavitt, their record now sits at 11-0.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Leavitt has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Buckfield struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Leavitt came out on top in a nail-biter against Buckfield in their previous matchup back in April, sneaking past 4-3. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Hornets since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
