The Hamilton Bobcats will head out on the road to face off against the Temecula Prep Patriots at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Hamilton knows how to get runs on the board -- the squad has finished with ten runs or more in their past four games -- so hopefully Temecula Prep likes a good challenge.
Hamilton came out on top against Xavier Prep on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run first inning. The Bobcats were the clear victors by an 11-0 margin over the Saints. The Bobcats might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won eight matchups by seven runs or more this season.
Kaitlynn Barreto made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out nine over four innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in eight consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs.
In other batting news, Hamilton got a massive performance out of Jayden Vargas, who got on base in all three of her plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Amaya Ambriz also deserves some recognition as she hit her first double of the season.
Hamilton was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .500. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .320 or higher in seven consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Temecula Prep came up short against Santa Rosa Academy on Tuesday, falling 20-9.
Kori Dawson and Samiyah Antoine stepped up to the plate in a big way. Dawson went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI, while Antoine went 1-for-2 with one home run and two runs. Rylie Parrino was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Temecula Prep has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost four of their last five games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 4-13 record this season. That patch can't be blamed on the team's hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.4 runs over those games. As for Hamilton, their record is now 8-5.
Temecula Prep's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hamilton has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10 hits per game. It's a different story for Temecula Prep, though, as they've been averaging 9 hits. Given Hamilton's sizable advantage in that area, the Patriots will need to find a way to close that gap.
Hamilton took their victory against Temecula Prep when the teams last played back in March by a conclusive 15-4 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bobcats since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
