The Liberty Charter Lions are taking a road trip to take on the Mountain Empire Redhawks at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Liberty Charter gave up the first runs on Friday, but they didn't let that get them down. They were the clear victors by a 15-2 margin over Ocean View Christian. The Lions haven't had any issues with the Patriots recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Logan Hays
| 03/20/25 vs Bayfront Charter | 5 |
| 05/02/25 @ Ocean View Christian | 3 |
| 04/10/25 @ Bonsall | 3 |
| 02/27/25 @ El Cajon Valley | 3 |
| 04/08/25 @ Castle Park | 2 |
| + 6 more games |
Drake Keehl and Logan Hays did most of the damage at the plate: Keehl went 2-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs, while Hays got on base in four of his five plate appearances with three runs, two RBI, and one double. Hays has become a key player for Liberty Charter: the team is 5-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 4-7 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Asher Johnson, who went 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Liberty Charter kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Mountain Empire came tearing into Friday's contest with eight straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They put the hurt on the Sharks with a sharp 39-3 win. The Redhawks' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Jakob Shawcroft made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out ten over four innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in six consecutive appearances. He was even better at the plate, firing off three triples, five runs, and two stolen bases while going 6-for-6. Those three triples gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Luis Cardoso was a standout: he went 5-for-7 with five stolen bases, five runs, and three RBI. Those five runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Cameron Leon, who got on base in four of his seven plate appearances with one home run, four runs, and two stolen bases.
Mountain Empire's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-4. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Liberty Charter, they now have a winning record of 9-8.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Liberty Charter has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .522. However, it's not like Mountain Empire struggles in that department as they've averaged .545. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Liberty Charter couldn't quite get it done against Mountain Empire when the teams last played back in April as they fell 7-2. Can the Lions avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
