Two of the most equally matched ballclubs in the league – this one is up for grabs. 4-5 games have been come from behinds – so if you’re looking for drama – you’re in the right place.
To quote the late, great former player and manager Bob Lemon, “The two most important things in life are good friends and a strong bullpen”, well, these teams certainly have an abundance of both.
Meggie Meidlinger isn’t fondly referred to as “The Architect” just because she actually is one – it’s in tandem with her creative, technical skills on the mound. In 12 innings of play she’s given up a paltry four earned runs, along with two handfuls of k’s.
Ashton Lansdell, the anchor and captain, is masterful in the hot corner and her skills in right are nothing to frown upon. She sprinkles her many hits all over the field, four of which have left the ballpark.
LA’s lineup has gotten more potent with Samaria Benítez’s nine-game hitting streak and Caitlyn Eynon’s propensity to hit where fielders aren’t.
The Queens are solid through-and-through and it feels like they could go the distance, but New York has a few aces up their sleeve as well.
Denae Benites has set the standard for what is referred to as a gamer – five home runs in the first four games – eight half way through the season, and now the reigning home run leader with 11.
The Heights lineup knows no bounds – scoring 32 runs in their final two games to clinch the No. 2 seed.
It’s hard to pick who’s the most standout player on the team second to Denae, because so many fit that bill. Natsuki Yonetani is a manager’s dream leadoff hitter – one of those players who always seems to get the job done.
Val Perez has upped her offensive ante down the stretch – her last two games she’s 5-8 with seven RBI’s. And her defense at short is bar none, one of the best in the league.
Madison Willan has become a not-so-secret weapon for NY – she ended the regular season with back-to-back 3-3 games and has struck out once in 23 at bats.
And the pitching staff? Claire Eccles has given the Heights left-handed depth, Emi Saiki, a welcome gift from the Queens is a no-nonsense righty who tossed 5 innings of no-hit ball in her last outing against SF, and Jaida Lee, if she returns from her ankle injury, is sure to give NY plenty of problems with her 23 league leading strikeouts.
These two teams truly feel like the recipe for an edge-of-the-seat matchup that you’re not going to want to miss.
Schedule
Sept 10 – Los Angeles Queens @ New York Heights – 6:00 PM CT
As the No.2 seed, the Heights will post up in the home team dugout for the first meeting of this three-game series.
Sept 11 – New York Heights @ Los Angeles Queens – 6:00 PM CT
LA hosts NY in the second game of the series.
Sept 13 – Los Angeles Queens @ New York Heights – 6:00 PM CT
If the teams are tied after two, we’ll move on to a third game in the series to decide who moves on to the WPBL Championship.