The Shrine Catholic Knights will head out to challenge the Greenhills Gryphons at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Shrine Catholic had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the eight-run drubbing they dealt Oakland Christian on Monday. The Knights put the hurt on the Lancers with a sharp 13-5 victory. The result was nothing new for the Knights, who have now won five matches by six runs or more so far this season.
Sean Murphy and Nate Alba were major factors while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Murphy tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Alba struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off five hits (and not a single walk). At bat, Murphy went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI, while Alba got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
In other batting news, Jackson Poulton was incredible, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. What's more, he posted three hits, the most he's had since back in May of 2024. Blake Archibald also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, Greenhills entered their tilt with Renaissance on Thursday with ten consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with 11. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Phoenix, sneaking past 10-8. That's two games straight that the Gryphons have won by exactly two runs.
Fran Love and Kade Mason did most of the damage at the plate: Love went 3-for-4 with two runs and one triple, while Mason went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Twoey Bullock, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI.
Shrine Catholic has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won eight of their last nine games. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-3 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Greenhills, their record is now 18-3.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Shrine Catholic has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Greenhills struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.9 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Shrine Catholic suffered a grim 9-0 defeat to Greenhills in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Knights avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
