Haywood is 1-8 against Bolivar Central since March of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Tomcats will host the Tigers at 6:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
As a matter of fact, Haywood put up the most runs they have all season last Tuesday. They fell just short of Lakeland Preparatory by a score of 16-15.
Karly Young stepped up to lead a balanced group of hitters: she went 3-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that she launched this season. Desteny Bond was another key player, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple.
Meanwhile, Bolivar Central strolled into their game on Tuesday with a perfect record and they left with the same. Everything went their way against Fayette Ware as they made off with a 26-11 win. Fans of the Tigers have seen this all before: every one of the games they've played this season has ended in a blowout of 6+ runs.
Leah Smith was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. Smith was even better at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Katie Lax was a standout: she scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-1. The team also got some help courtesy of Aubrey Wells, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-2.
Bolivar Central kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Fayette Ware only managed four hits.
Haywood's defeat dropped their record down to 3-3. As for Bolivar Central, their victory bumped their record up to 4-0.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Haywood has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .542. However, it's not like Bolivar Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .641. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Haywood might still be hurting after the 15-5 loss they got from Bolivar Central in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Will the Tomcats have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
