For the first time this season, L'Anse Creuse North will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will take on the St. Clair Saints at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. L'Anse Creuse North will be looking to extend their current three-game winning streak.
L'Anse Creuse North took a six-run loss the last time they faced off against Chippewa Valley, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Crusaders skirted past the Big Reds 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Crusaders have posted since May 10, 2025.
The team relied heavily on Ashlee Lane, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two RBI and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Ava Alexander, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
L'Anse Creuse North always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .750. The last time their OBP was this high was was before the start of last season.
The scorekeeper got an easy start on Wednesday as neither St. Clair nor Armada made it on the board until the sixth inning. The Saints fell just short of the Tigers by a score of 3-2. The loss put an end to the Saints' undefeated start to the season.
Gracie Pickelhaupt spent all 7.1 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on four hits and racked up ten Ks.
At the plate, St. Clair saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Maliyah Smith, who went 2-for-4 with one double.
L'Anse Creuse North's record is now 3-0. As for St. Clair, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 2-1.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. L'Anse Creuse North hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .424. However, it's not like St. Clair struggles in that department as they've averaged .363. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
L'Anse Creuse North couldn't quite get it done against St. Clair when the teams last played back in May of 2025 as they fell 6-2. Can the Crusaders avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
