Baseball Game Preview: Payton College Prep Grizzlies vs. Saint Ignatius College Prep Wolfpack

Payton College Prep is 1-7 against Saint Ignatius College Prep since March of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Grizzlies will challenge the Wolfpack at 4:45 p.m. Payton College Prep is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.3 runs per game this season.

Payton College Prep was handed a eight-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Saturday. They had just enough and edged out Maine West 12-10. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Grizzlies considering their two-run performance the game before.

Anthony Arena tossed a big game, striking out six batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances.

Derek Patton

Runs

04/10/25 @ Northside	4
04/03/25 @ Clemente	4
05/17/25 @ Maine West	3
04/29/25 @ Whitney Young	2
04/24/25 vs Whitney Young	2
+ 12 more games

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Derek Patton, who went 3-for-4 with two triples, three runs, and one stolen base. Payton College Prep is 8-1 when Patton posts two or more runs, but 6-17 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Nathan Volkens, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.

Payton College Prep kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 10-0 when they post 11 or more hits.

Meanwhile, Saint Ignatius College Prep was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their sixth straight loss. They came up short against Chicago Mt. Carmel, falling 15-0.

Saint Ignatius College Prep's defeat dropped their record down to 10-22. As for Payton College Prep, their record now sits at 14-18.

Payton College Prep beat Saint Ignatius College Prep 5-0 in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Do the Grizzlies have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wolfpack turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.