The Harbor Teacher Monarchs are taking a road trip to take on the Port of Los Angeles Polar Bears at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. Harbor Teacher knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past four matchups -- so hopefully Port of Los Angeles likes a good challenge.
On Monday, Harbor Teacher made easy work of Fremont and carried off a 15-4 win. The result was nothing new for the Monarchs, who have now won six games by ten runs or more so far this season.
The team relied heavily on Candice Gutierrez, who fired off two home runs, six RBI, and three runs while going 2-for-4. Another player making a difference was Samantha Galima, who scored three runs while going 2-for-4.
Harbor Teacher hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. The team has now struck out at least three batters in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Port of Los Angeles was able to grind out a solid victory over King/Drew on Monday, taking the game 5-1. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Polar Bears.
Jimena Vargas spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Rochelle Watkins was excellent, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
Harbor Teacher's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 6-2. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.7 runs over those games. As for Port of Los Angeles, they now have a winning record of 5-4.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Harbor Teacher has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .507. However, it's not like Port of Los Angeles struggles in that department as they've averaged .482. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Harbor Teacher might still be hurting after the 15-0 defeat they got from Port of Los Angeles in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Monarchs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
