The Mt. Carmel Sundevils will square off against the El Capitan Vaqueros at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Mt. Carmel is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
Mt. Carmel is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They never let San Pasqual get on the board and left with a 3-0 victory. The game was the first time the Sundevils have beaten the Golden Eagles on their field since March 16, 2019.
Mt. Carmel's win was truly a team effort as six different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Naya Leuck, who went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Another was Kaili Martha, who went 1-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Scripps Ranch hit El Capitan with a six-run first inning on Friday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Vaqueros fell just short of the Falcons by a score of 8-7.
Makenna Burton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and four unearned) runs on ten hits and racked up nine Ks.
On the hitting side, Sofia Simone was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-5 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run. Gabrielle Garcia was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and one double.
Mt. Carmel has been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-9-1 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 6.5 runs over those games. As for El Capitan, their defeat dropped their record down to 14-13.
Saturday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Mt. Carmel hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .332. However, it's not like El Capitan struggles in that department as they've averaged .327. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mt. Carmel came out on top in a nail-biter against El Capitan in their previous meeting back in March of 2017, sneaking past 11-10. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Sundevils since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
