The Saugus Centurions will take on the Thousand Oaks Lancers in a tournament on Saturday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average, (Saugus 2.6, Thousand Oaks 2.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
While Saugus' victory against West Ranch wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Saugus sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-6 win over West Ranch on Thursday. The victory was nothing new for the Centurions as they're now sitting on three straight.
Taliya Mata looked comfortable as she pitched four innings while giving up just two earned runs off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season.
At the plate, Amelia Johnson and Savanna Smith did most of the damage at the plate: Johnson scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4, while Smith scored two runs and stole Two bases. while going 3-for-4. That's the most hits Smith has posted since back in April of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Jordan Shepherd, who went 1-for-4 with one home run and three RBI.
Saugus kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 14 hits in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Thousand Oaks hadn't done well against Agoura recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. Thousand Oaks never let Agoura get on the board and left with a 5-0 win. The victory was familiar territory for the Lancers, who have now won three matchups in a row.
Not much got past Claire Kirby, who gave up just five hits and racked up six Ks to keep Agoura off the board.
On the hitting side, Thousand Oaks' win was truly a team effort as two different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Olivia LePage, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
Thousand Oaks' victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-2. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.0 runs over those games. As for Saugus, their record is now 10-2.
Thousand Oaks' pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Saugus has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .456. It's a different story for Thousand Oaks, though, as they've only averaged .351. Will they be able to contain Saugus' hitters?
Saugus beat Thousand Oaks 3-0 in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for Saugus since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
