The Avon Park Red Devils will head out on the road to take on the Lake Placid Dragons at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Avon Park will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Avon Park proved they can win big on Thursday (they won by six) and on Monday they proved they can win the close ones too. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-5 win over Sebring. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Red Devils have posted since March 4th.
Paisley Macias spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and two unearned) runs on five hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Kamya Brassell, who went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, three runs, and one triple. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in March. Skylar Hicks was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Lake Placid's found some homefield redemption this week after a overtime loss to Okeechobee on Friday. The Dragons blew past Winter Haven 13-0. The Dragons might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by six runs or more this season.
Kaylee Grigsby and Emily Tharp were major factors while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Grigsby tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Tharp tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. At bat, Grigsby went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one triple, and one stolen base, while Tharp went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one double.
In other batting news, Lake Placid got a massive performance out of Jillian Garduno, who went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one double. Allie Oliveros also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Lake Placid kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in four consecutive matches.
Avon Park pushed their record up to 12-8 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs over those games. As for Lake Placid, they have been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four games. That's provided a massive bump to their 11-11 record this season.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Avon Park has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .461. However, it's not like Lake Placid struggles in that department as they've averaged .466. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Avon Park took their win against Lake Placid when the teams last played back in March by a conclusive 9-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Red Devils since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
