Last year, we split in Rockford, then swept them at home. This year, we split in Rockford again. Will we complete the pattern by sweeping at home?

Rockford does not seem as strong as they were last year. About this point in 2007, they were right with us near the top of the standings, though they eventually struggled to just make the tourney, finishing in 4th. This year, they're in last place.

During the series in Rockford last month, they were without Serena Settlemier, so we will face her for the first time this season. She's given up just 1 earned run in each of her last 2 starts. They were also without their excellent draft pick, Tonya Callahan, for 3 of those games. Callahan leads the team with 5 HRs and 12 RBI, and her recent stats are even better: 5-12 with 3 of those 5 hits over the fence. Joining Callahan at the Team NPF games for 3 games of this series was Kristen Zaleski, who is their second leading hitter. She also leads Rockford in stolen bases, with 9 (third in the NPF).

Without those players, they still won 1 of 3 games last month. During the series, Megan Brown shut us down quite well, with a 1.20 ERA over 11 innings, and Lindsay Gardner was on fire at the plate, going 7-14. On the year, Erin Evans is leading the team in average, and Audrey Rendon is second, and second on the team in steals (6).

Both teams are coming off a 1-3 series, though Rockford played a better team (Philadelphia Force). One of Rockford's losses was by a score of 17-2, but I'm going to ignore that as an anomaly. Our series against Chicago lowered our team batting average from .244 to .232, and raised out ERA from 1.68 to 2.07, though that is still the best in the league. Fortunately for us, Rockford's average is even lower (.220).

Even though we're in second place and they're in last, I don't see a repeat of last year's sweep. We need to start hitting consistently, and with runners on base, or we could be looking at another 1-3 series. We also need to find a way to stop all the running that Chicago was doing on us, where almost every single turned into a double. If we can do that, and our bats continue coming alive like they seemed to be doing on Sunday, we should be able to split, with an outside chance at winning 3.

Rockford likes to predict pitching matchups. Last time, they failed with their own pitcher in game 1. For Rockford to be listing who will start for us is just a wild guess. Given that caveat, here they are:

Thursday: Settlemier vs Serrano
Friday: Kime vs Pauly
Saturday: Selttlemier vs Mowatt
Sunday: Kime vs Ferguson

Don't forget that there should be 2, count 'em 2, Home Run Derbies this series. One will be Saturday. I would assume that the second would be Sunday, since it's easier for people to get there early. But it could be Friday, for all I know.

Lastly, we will face Stephanie Best for the first time since the trade, so we'll see if that comes back to bite us.