The Master's Academy Patriots will venture away from home to challenge the Oasis Christian Lions at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
As a matter of fact, Master's Academy put up the most runs they have all season on Monday. They were the clear victors by a 22-7 margin over Port St. Lucie. The victory continues a trend for the Patriots in their matchups with the Jaguars: they've now won seven in a row.
Master's Academy let Gia Gasbarro and Katelyn Hawkins run wild. Gasbarro scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances, while Hawkins got on base in three of her four plate appearances with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most runs Gasbarro has posted since back in March. Katherine Ryer also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Meanwhile, Oasis Christian had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They blew past Kathleen 33-11 on Tuesday. The game marked the Lions' most dominant win of the season.
Amber Whittington was a standout: she got on base in five of her six plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Ladela Bradberry, who got on base in five of her six plate appearances with four runs, four RBI, and one stolen base.
Oasis Christian kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.2 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matchups they've averaged 9.2.
Master's Academy's victory was their ninth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 15-4. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.4 runs over those games. As for Oasis Christian, their record is now 6-11.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Master's Academy has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .525. However, it's not like Oasis Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .503. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Master's Academy took their victory against Oasis Christian in their previous matchup back in February by a conclusive 15-5 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Patriots since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
