Rockledge is a perfect 3-0 against Melbourne Central Catholic since February of 2016 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Raiders will take on the Hustlers at 4:30 p.m. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Rockledge sitting on nine straight victories and Melbourne Central Catholic on six.
Last Tuesday, Rockledge was able to grind out a solid win over Master's Academy, taking the game 4-1.
Gizelle Arteaga
| 04/01/25 vs Master's Academy | 3 |
| 03/27/25 @ Sebastian River | 3 |
| 03/26/25 vs Space Coast | 1 |
The team relied heavily on Gizelle Arteaga, who scored a run and stole three bases while going 1-for-2. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games she's played. Ahraya Dalaq also deserves some recognition as she launched her first home run of the season.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Central Catholic made easy work of Harmony on Thursday and carried off a 12-2 victory. Considering the Hustlers have won seven matchups by more than five runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Madelynn Prayto made a big impact no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. Prayto was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in February.
In other batting news, Peyton West was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base. What's more, she posted two RBI, the most she's had since back in April of 2024. Madelyn Oesterle was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
Melbourne Central Catholic's win was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 11-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.1 runs over those games. As for Rockledge, their record is now 12-3.
Rockledge's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's game. The Raiders have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Melbourne Central Catholic, though, as they've been averaging only 0.8 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Rockledge continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Rockledge's way against Melbourne Central Catholic in their previous matchup back in March, as Rockledge made off with an 11-4 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Raiders since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
