The Booker Tornadoes will venture away from home to take on the Lemon Bay Manta Rays at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Booker is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 20.4 runs per game this season.
Booker had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 25-run drubbing they dealt Gibbs two weeks ago. The Tornadoes put the hurt on the Gladiators with a sharp 27-2 victory. The Tornadoes have beaten the Gladiators the last four times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Gladiators has come to flipping the script.
Booker got a massive performance out of Eunique Bethal, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with ten stolen bases and four runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Makenzie Poppa, who got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, four stolen bases, and three runs.
Booker always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .909. The last time their OBP was this high was was before the start of last season.
Meanwhile, Lemon Bay was not able to break out of their rough patch on Wednesday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They took a 5-2 hit to the loss column at the hands of Riverdale.
Reagan Altieri put in work while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off ten hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one double.
Altieri wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Cassidy Silvia, who went 1-for-3 with one run.
The win got Booker back to even at 5-5. As for Lemon Bay, they now have a losing record of 9-10.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Booker hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .487. However, it's not like Lemon Bay struggles in that department as they've averaged .362. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Booker suffered a grim 28-0 defeat to Lemon Bay in their previous meeting back in March of 2023. Can the Tornadoes avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
