The Palm Beach Central Broncos will challenge the King's Academy Lions at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Palm Beach Central is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Palm Beach Central fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Dwyer on Tuesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Panthers by a score of 5-4. The Broncos' defeat signaled the end of their six-game winning streak.
Kacie Riggan
| 04/15/25 @ Dwyer | 6 |
| 04/11/25 vs Oxbridge Academy | 9 |
| 04/03/25 vs Olympic Heights | 8 |
| 04/01/25 @ Cardinal Newman | 9 |
Kacie Riggan spent all 7.1 innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and two unearned) runs on ten hits and racked up six Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Ava Regoli made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. That home run was her first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Alexia Sullo, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4.
Meanwhile, King's Academy came tearing into Monday's game with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 10 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They blew past the Bobcats 9-2. Considering the Lions have won 14 contests by more than six runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
King's Academy also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Caroline Duncan gave up only one earned (and one unearned) run on five hits and racked up 11 Ks.
On the hitting side, Gracyn Needle was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs and one triple. That's the most hits she has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Kiersten Zimmerman, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
King's Academy was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .438. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .344 or higher in four consecutive matches.
King's Academy's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Palm Beach Central, their loss dropped their record down to 11-5.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Palm Beach Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .339. However, it's not like King's Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .414. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Palm Beach Central came out on top in a nail-biter against King's Academy when the teams last played back in March, sneaking past 9-7. Will the Broncos repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
