For the first time this season, South Fremont will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will head out to face off against the Sugar-Salem Diggers at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
It was a proper cat-fight when South Fremont challenged Snake River on Tuesday. The Cougars blew past the Panthers 16-10.
The team relied heavily on Leah Lehmann, who went 2-for-5 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Lexi Peebles, who scored three runs while going 2-for-5.
Lehmann wasn't the only one making solid contact: South Fremont kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. The Cougars are a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Sugar-Salem entered their tilt with Preston on Saturday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They were the clear victors by an 11-5 margin over the Indians. Considering the Diggers have won six contests by more than five runs this season, Saturday's blowout was nothing new.
Kambry Bartholick was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching 6.2 innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits. Bartholick was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-5.
In other batting news, Kenadee Birch and Ashlyn Harris did most of the damage at the plate: Birch went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one double, while Harris scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Shilo Woodcock, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Sugar-Salem's victory was their fifth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-7. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.2 runs over those games. As for South Fremont, their record now sits at 8-9.
Thursday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. South Fremont has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .462. However, it's not like Sugar-Salem struggles in that department as they've averaged .451. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
South Fremont came out on top in a nail-biter against Sugar-Salem in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, sneaking past 7-6. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Cougars since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
