The Westerly Bulldogs will head out on the road to challenge the Lincoln Lions at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The pair are strolling into their matches after big wins in their previous games.
Westerly is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Woonsocket, who was ranked 17th in their home state at the time (Westerly was ranked sixth). Westerly blew past Woonsocket 20-1. For those curious, yes, that was the biggest win Westerly has managed all season.
Sophia Valentini made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out six batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and only one walk). Valentini has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive pitching appearances. Valentini was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances.
In other batting news, Westerly got a massive performance out of Alex Stoehr, who scored three runs while going 3-for-4. Another player making a difference was Lilly Vetelino, who scored two runs while going 2-for-5.
Meanwhile, Lincoln put the finishing touches on their third blowout victory of the season on Wednesday. They were the clear victor by a 17-4 margin over Burrillville. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Lincoln.
Like Westerly, Lincoln also got a great game from a two-way player: Lauren Cipriano. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing an inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Cipriano was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Lincoln got a massive performance out of Mariana Xavier, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-3. Charlotte Labossiere was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
The victory (which was Westerly's fourth in a row) raised their record to 9-2. As for Lincoln, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Monday's contest will be a test for both team's pitchers. Westerly hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .339. However, it's not like Lincoln struggles in that department as they've averaged .349. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Westerly took their win against Lincoln in their previous matchup back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 7-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for Westerly since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
