The Columbus Grove Bulldogs will take on the Continental Pirates at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Columbus Grove has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the matchup with five straight defeats, while Continental will come in with three straight wins.
On Monday, Columbus Grove didn't have quite enough to beat Allen East and fell 19-18. Even if the Bulldogs couldn't come away with the victory, the high-scoring effort was a great turnaround for their hitters, which had struggled int the games prior.
Zoey Patchet and Breanna Hoffman stepped up to the plate in a big way. Patchet got on base in four of her six plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI, while Hoffman scored five runs and stole a base while going 2-for-5. Hoffman also hit a triple, marking her first of the season. Becca Hoover was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, Continental made easy work of Ottoville on Monday and carried off a 9-2 win. Considering the Pirates have won three contests by more than six runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Gracie Homier spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on four hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been consistent : she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Maeci Dockery, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Becca Sullivan, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-3.
Columbus Grove's loss dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Continental, their victory bumped their record up to 5-3.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Columbus Grove has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.7 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Continental struggles in that department as they've been averaging 5.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Columbus Grove came up short against Continental when the teams last played back in April of 2024, falling 4-1. Can the Bulldogs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
