The Lytle Pirates will face off against the Hondo Owls at 7:00 p.m. on Monday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Lytle comes in on four and Hondo on eight.
Last Friday, Lytle made easy work of Dilley and carried off a 15-1 win. With that victory, the Pirates brought their scoring average up to 6.2 runs per game.
Travis Norton made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than one hit in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3. That's the most hits he has posted since back in February.
In other batting news, Mason Hill was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, six RBI, and three runs. That's the most runs he has posted since back in March. Lee Mills also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.
Lytle kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.6 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matches they've averaged 9.6.
Meanwhile, Hondo had just enough and edged out Crystal City 3-1 on Friday.
The team relied heavily on Kolby Gear, who scored two runs while going 1-for-2. Kolten Alvarez was another key player, scoring a run and stealing two bases while getting on base in two of his three plate appearances.
Hondo's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-4-1. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.2 runs over those games. As for Lytle, their record now sits at 15-11.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Lytle has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .446. However, it's not like Hondo struggles in that department as they've averaged .466. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Lytle couldn't quite get it done against Hondo in their previous meeting back in March as they fell 6-2. Can the Pirates avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
