The Bishop O'Dowd Dragons will challenge the Castro Valley Trojans at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Bishop O'Dowd is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.2 runs per game this season.
Bishop O'Dowd came out on top against Encinal on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive four-run sixth inning. The Dragons were the clear victors by an 8-2 margin over the Jets. The result was nothing new for the Dragons, who have now won eight games by six runs or more so far this season.
Bishop O'Dowd got a great performance from Emma Brown as she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over five innings pitched. Brown has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 15 consecutive appearances.
Jaella Mercado
| 05/07/25 @ Encinal | 3 |
| 05/02/25 @ Alameda | 2 |
| 04/30/25 @ Berkeley | 2 |
| 04/10/25 @ San Leandro | 3 |
| 04/03/25 vs Alameda | 2 |
| 04/01/25 vs Arroyo | 1 |
On the hitting side, Jaella Mercado was incredible, getting on base in all five of her plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last six games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Ziggy Savage, who went 2-for-4 with one home run.
Meanwhile, Castro Valley entered their tilt with Alameda on Tuesday with six consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with seven. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 3-2 W against the Hornets. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Trojans have posted since March 25th.
Alanys Robertson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and one unearned) run on four hits and racked up 12 Ks.
At the plate, Castro Valley's victory was truly a team effort as three different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Alicya Robertson, who went 1-for-2 with two runs and one double.
Castro Valley's win was their seventh straight at home, which pushed their record up to 15-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for Bishop O'Dowd, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-6 record this season.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Bishop O'Dowd hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .353. However, it's not like Castro Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .374. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bishop O'Dowd couldn't quite finish off Castro Valley in their previous meeting back in March and fell 5-3. Will the Dragons have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
