North Port and Lemon Bay are an even 5-5 against one another since February of 2018, but likely not for long. The Bobcats will challenge the Manta Rays at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
On Tuesday, North Port got the win against Lehigh by a conclusive 17-1. The Bobcats have beaten the Lightning the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Lightning has come to flipping the script.
Payson Rumley made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. That hit was her first of the season. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-1. That's the most runs she has posted since back in March of 2024.
Cailinne Kelly
| 04/01/25 vs Lehigh | 2 |
| 03/11/25 @ Manatee | 1 |
| 03/28/24 vs Lemon Bay | 1 |
| 02/26/24 vs Braden River | 1 |
In other batting news, Cailinne Kelly was incredible, firing off two home runs, six RBI, and one double while going 3-for-3. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Emma Baskins, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
North Port always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .720. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Lemon Bay). They never let Southeast get on the board and left with a 22-0 win on Tuesday. Considering the Manta Rays have won four games by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Certayn Legg was a major factor no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run over four innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kylie Jones, who scored four runs and stole a base while going 4-for-4. Another player making a difference was Cassidy Robejsek, who scored three runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Lemon Bay is on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 6-6 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for North Port, their record now sits at 5-6.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. North Port hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .330. However, it's not like Lemon Bay struggles in that department as they've averaged .350. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
North Port came up short against Lemon Bay in their previous matchup on Friday, falling 6-3. Can the Bobcats avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
