Antwerp is preparing for their first conference matchup of the season on Thursday. They will head out to square off against the Tinora Rams at 5:00 p.m. Antwerp is coming into the game hot, having won their last five games.
While Antwerp's victory against Jefferson wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Archers won by a run and slipped past the Wildcats 4-3. While the Archers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 7-9), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Elle Clem spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on eight hits and racked up nine Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Caroline Rohrs, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in May of 2024. Kailey McCoy also deserves some recognition as she got her first hit of the season.
Meanwhile, Tinora was able to grind out a solid win over Continental on Friday, taking the game 8-4. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Rams.
Zoe Billings made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over seven innings pitched. Billings was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Paige Gamby and Christina Meyer did most of the damage at the plate: Gamby went 2-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one double, while Meyer scored three runs and stole three bases while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Zoe Roesti, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
Tinora now has a winning record of 3-2. As for Antwerp, their record is now 6-2.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Thursday as neither team is afraid to steal. Antwerp has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Tinora struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Antwerp suffered a grim 6-0 defeat to Tinora when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Archers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
