Berkeley Prep is 9-1 against Tampa Catholic since April of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Buccaneers will head out on the road to square off against the Crusaders at 6:00 p.m. Berkeley Prep's pitching crew has only allowed 3.2 runs per game this season, so Tampa Catholic's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Berkeley Prep fought the good fight in their extra-innings match against Steinbrenner on Wednesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Warriors by a score of 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Buccaneers have suffered since March 1st.
Avery Powers
| 04/09/25 vs Steinbrenner | 13 |
| 04/08/25 vs River Ridge | 8 |
| 04/04/25 @ Wellington | 11 |
| 04/01/25 @ Academy of the Holy Names | 8 |
| 03/13/25 vs Parrish Community | 8 |
| + 8 more games |
Avery Powers spent all ten innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and two unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 13 Ks. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in 13 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Avery Malin was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Hannah Cronin, who went 2-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Tampa Catholic never got on the board in their matchup last Wednesday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Shorecrest Prep on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by a 10-2 margin over the Chargers. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Crusaders' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Tampa Catholic also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Olivia Ricciardi gave up two runs (both of which were unearned) on three hits and racked up 14 Ks.
On the hitting side, Tampa Catholic let Jada Johnson and Josslynn Grimsley run wild. Johnson went 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs, while Grimsley scored two runs while going 3-for-4. That's the most hits Johnson has posted since back in February. Aubrey Beauchaine also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen bases of the season.
Tampa Catholic kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Berkeley Prep's defeat dropped their record down to 10-6. As for Tampa Catholic, they now have a winning record of 8-7.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Berkeley Prep has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Tampa Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Berkeley Prep came out on top in a nail-biter against Tampa Catholic when the teams last played back in April of 2024, sneaking past 2-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Buccaneers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
