The Vanguard Knights will head out on the road to square off against the Belleview Rattlers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Vanguard will be strutting in after a win while Belleview will be coming in after a defeat.
Vanguard will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs on Tuesday, then bounced right back against Lake Weir on Wednesday. Vanguard blew past Lake Weir 12-3. The victory continues a trend for the Knights in their matchups with the Hurricanes: they've now won seven in a row.
Destiny Horcajo
| 02/26/25 @ Lake Weir | 1 |
| 02/25/25 vs Forest | 3 |
| 02/18/25 @ Santa Fe | 2 |
| 05/08/24 vs Lake Wales | 2 |
Destiny Horcajo made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She pitched seven innings while giving up three earned runs off four hits. What's more, she gave up only four walks, the fewest she's had since back in March of 2024. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-5. She is also on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now stole at least one in each of the last four games she's played dating back to last season.
In other batting news, Vanguard got a massive performance out of Alivia Vance, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. What's more, Vance posted three RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Jaelynn Whipple, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI.
Vanguard kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lake Weir only managed three hits.
Meanwhile, Belleview was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss dating back to last season. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 5-4 heartbreaker at the hands of South Sumter.
Belleview saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aly Axe, who scored a run while going 2-for-4. Madison Arnold was another, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.
Vanguard's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Belleview, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-3.
Vanguard's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's game. Vanguard has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.7 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Belleview, though, as they've been averaging only 0.7 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Vanguard continue to outrun the ball?
Vanguard took their victory against Belleview in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 10-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Vanguard since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
