Excelsior Charter is 1-9 against Riverside Prep since April of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Eagles will head out on the road to challenge the Silver Knights at 3:15 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Thursday, Excelsior Charter made easy work of Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy and carried off a 16-5 victory. The Eagles haven't had any issues with Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
Rylie Hunsaker made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 14 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs.
Samantha Minghelli
| 04/24/25 @ Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy | 3 |
| 04/22/25 vs Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy | 1 |
| 04/17/25 vs Academy for Academic Excellence | 1 |
| 04/15/25 @ Academy for Academic Excellence | 1 |
| 04/10/25 vs Big Bear | 1 |
| + 6 more games |
In other batting news, Excelsior Charter got a massive performance out of Samantha Minghelli, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most runs Minghelli has posted since back in March. Alany Esparza also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Excelsior Charter kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 8-3 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Riverside Prep won against Big Bear on Tuesday with 17 runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Thursday. The Silver Knights blew past the Bears 17-2. The victory was familiar territory for the Silver Knights, who have now won three contests in a row.
Meeka Martinez was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. Another player making a difference was Makayla Bustos, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with four stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
Excelsior Charter's record is now 11-8-1. As for Riverside Prep, their record now sits at 12-9.
Tuesday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Excelsior Charter hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .366. However, it's not like Riverside Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .380. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Excelsior Charter might still be hurting after the 15-4 loss they got from Riverside Prep in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Eagles avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
