Orland and Gridley are an even 5-5 against one another since April of 2019, but likely not for long. The Trojans will be playing in front of their home fans against the Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Orland is coming into the match hot, having won their last five games.
Orland barely beat Live Oak the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Trojans put the hurt on the Lions with a sharp 8-2 victory on Wednesday. The result was nothing new for the Trojans, who have now won five games by six runs or more so far this season.
Kiera McKenzie
| 04/09/25 @ Live Oak | 3 |
| 04/08/25 vs Oroville | 2 |
| 03/27/25 vs Central Valley | 2 |
| 03/25/25 @ University Prep | 2 |
| 03/21/25 vs Las Plumas | 1 |
Dottie Davis and Kiera McKenzie made a splash while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Davis pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, McKenzie struck out nine batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. At the plate, Davis scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3, while McKenzie scored two runs while going 3-for-3. Those three hits gave McKenzie a new career-high.
In other batting news, Gracie Cutshall was excellent, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3.
Orland kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Live Oak only managed six hits.
Meanwhile, after some red-hot attacks at the plate in their last five contests, Gridley finally came back down to earth on Thursday. They came up short against Las Plumas, falling 14-2. The matchup marked the Bulldogs' lowest-scoring game so far this season.
Delanie Cloyd was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one home run and one double.
Orland's win bumped their record up to 10-2. As for Gridley, their loss ended an eight-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 8-3.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Orland hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .313. However, it's not like Gridley struggles in that department as they've averaged .483. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Orland couldn't quite get it done against Gridley in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 as they fell 7-3. Will the Trojans have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
