Brookside and Wellington are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2018, but likely not for long. The Cardinals will be playing at home against the Dukes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Brookside knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past four matchups -- so hopefully Wellington likes a good challenge.
Brookside's tournament run continued when they took on Woodridge on Thursday. The Cardinals came out on top against the Bulldogs by a score of 10-5.
Markie-Ann Aliff
| 05/15/25 @ Woodridge | 4 |
| 05/13/25 @ Lorain | 3 |
| 05/12/25 vs St. Joseph Academy | 3 |
| 05/10/25 @ Firelands | 3 |
| 05/09/25 vs Columbia | 1 |
| + 13 more games |
Markie-Ann Aliff made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off ten hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, firing off three home runs, six RBI, and one stolen base while going 4-for-5. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Khloe Racz, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and one double. Another player making a difference was Trinity Arend, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, one run, and one RBI.
Brookside kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 8-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Wellington hadn't beaten Black River on the road since May 11, 2021 but that history sure didn't bother them on Thursday. The Dukes sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-5 victory over the Pirates. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Dukes.
Like Brookside, Wellington also got a great game from a two-way player: Mallory Pickering. She struck out eight batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Pickering was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three runs, two RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, Caedyn Wacker was excellent, going 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run.
Brookside pushed their record up to 10-15 with the win, which was their sixth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.7 runs over those games. As for Wellington, they now have a winning record of 10-9.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Brookside hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .323. However, it's not like Wellington struggles in that department as they've averaged .315. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Brookside might still be hurting after the 9-3 loss they got from Wellington in their previous meeting back in April. Will the Cardinals have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
