The Port of Los Angeles Polar Bears will face off against the Verdugo Hills Dons at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Port of Los Angeles is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They never let Cleveland get on the board and left with a 15-0 victory. Winning may never get old, but the Polar Bears sure are getting used to it with their 13th in a row.
Jimena Vargas
| 05/21/25 vs Cleveland | 9 |
| 05/15/25 @ Fremont | 8 |
| 05/08/25 @ King/Drew | 5 |
| 05/01/25 vs Locke | 9 |
Jimena Vargas made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out nine over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
In other batting news, Nevaeh Randall was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Rochelle Watkins, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one stolen base.
Port of Los Angeles always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .545. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .545 or higher in eight consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Verdugo Hills came tearing into Wednesday's match with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 6 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victors by a 16-0 margin over the Dolphins.
Like Port of Los Angeles, Verdugo Hills also got a great game from a two-way player: Kaitlyn Barba. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over five innings pitched. Barba was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Verdugo Hills got a massive performance out of Lauren Brink, who went 4-for-5 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. That's the most doubles Brink has posted since back in March. Emily Wagner was another key player, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with four runs and two stolen bases.
Port of Los Angeles' win bumped their record up to 16-4. As for Verdugo Hills, their victory bumped their record up to 9-10-1.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Port of Los Angeles has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .556. However, it's not like Verdugo Hills struggles in that department as they've averaged .451. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
