The Payton College Prep Grizzlies will head out to take on the Latin Romans at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Payton College Prep gave up the first runs on Friday, but they didn't let that get them down. They put the hurt on Ogden International with a sharp 7-1 win.
Nathan Volkens spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on two hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
Nick Linares
| 05/02/25 @ Ogden International | 1 |
| 04/29/25 @ Whitney Young | 1 |
| 04/05/25 @ North Shore Country Day | 1 |
| 03/21/25 vs Stevenson | 1 |
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Nick Linares, who went 1-for-3 with one home run. He has become a key player for Payton College Prep: the team is 3-1 when he posts at least one home run, but 7-13 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Augie Ruf, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Payton College Prep kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 9-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Latin came out on top against Lake Forest Academy on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive five-run fifth inning. The Romans' pitcher stepped up to hand the Caxys a 10-0 shutout. The victory continues a trend for the Romans in their matchups with the Caxys: they've now won nine in a row.
Grayson Hoffman was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out eight over five innings pitched. Hoffman was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in May of 2024.
In other batting news, Karim Patterson was a standout: he went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Drew Lufrano, who went 1-for-3 with one home run and two RBI.
Latin pushed their record up to 8-2 with the win, which was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 7.9 runs over those games. As for Payton College Prep, their record is now 10-14.
Saturday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Payton College Prep has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .437. However, it's not like Latin struggles in that department as they've averaged .469. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Payton College Prep skirted past Latin 3-2 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Grizzlies since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
