Midland Trail is a perfect 5-0 against Cross Lanes Christian since April of 2019 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Saturday. The Patriots will head out to take on the Warriors at 12:00 p.m. Midland Trail is coming into the match on a three-game losing streak.
Midland Trail fought the good fight in their extra-innings game against Sherman on Friday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Tide by a score of 3-2.
Madison Rader
| 04/11/25 @ Sherman | 8 |
| 04/08/25 vs Buffalo | 8 |
| 03/29/25 vs Hoover | 5 |
| 03/28/25 @ Richwood | 5 |
| 03/27/25 vs Wyoming East | 5 |
| + 3 more games |
Madison Rader spent all 9.2 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three runs (all of which were unearned) on five hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Nevaeh Hall and Kyndal Parsons stepped up to the plate in a big way. Hall scored a run while going 3-for-5, while Parsons scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in four of her five plate appearances. Hall also hit a double, marking her first of the season.
Meanwhile, the third road contest was the charm for Cross Lanes Christian, as they earned their first away win of the season. They were the clear victors by a 12-1 margin over Hannan on Friday. Considering the Warriors' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
The team relied heavily on Mary Franke, who scored a run and stole a base while going 4-for-5. Jordan Ellison was another key player, scoring two runs while going 3-for-3.
Cross Lanes Christian was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .533. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Cross Lanes Christian picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 5-3. As for Midland Trail, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Midland Trail has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 6.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Cross Lanes Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Midland Trail took their win against Cross Lanes Christian in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 23-16 score. Will the Patriots repeat their success, or do the Warriors have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
