For the second straight game, Celeste will face off against Bland. The Blue Devils will head out to take on the Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Celeste is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.2 runs per game this season.
Celeste is probably headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder considering Bland just ended the team's 11-game winning streak on Tuesday. They lost 18-9 to the Tigers. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Blue Devils have suffered since May 2, 2025.
For Bland's part, Sadie Soto made a splash while hitting and pitching. She struck out 13 batters over seven innings while giving up five earned (and four unearned) runs off three hits. Soto has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.
In other batting news, Bland got a massive performance out of Linsey Womack, who went 3-for-4 with five RBI, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those five RBI gave Womack a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Kaydence Lopez, who went 4-for-5 with four runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Bland kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in five consecutive contests.
Bland pushed their record up to 18-8 with the victory, which was their fifth straight on the road. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.6 runs over those games. As for Celeste, their defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 11-1 and their overall record down to 18-5-1.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Celeste hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .439. However, it's not like Bland struggles in that department as they've averaged .377. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
