St. Petersburg Catholic hasn't had much luck against Shorecrest Prep recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. After both having extra time off, the two teams will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 4:15 p.m. St. Petersburg Catholic has given up an average of 20.2 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
St. Petersburg Catholic is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 29 runs two weeks ago, they were much more limited against Saint Stephen's Episcopal last Thursday. They came up short against the Falcons, falling 24-1.
St. Petersburg Catholic saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Lillian Barnard, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one double and one RBI.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Shorecrest Prep). Their pitcher stepped up to hand Cambridge Christian a 17-0 shutout last Thursday. The Chargers have beaten the Lancers the last four times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Lancers has come to flipping the script.
Bobbie Strus was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one hit in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and one double.
In other batting news, Shorecrest Prep let Sonia Anderson and Madi Bidwell run wild. Anderson went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI, while Bidwell went 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one double. That home run was Anderson's first of the season. Another player making a difference was Sarah Ayscue, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Shorecrest Prep was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .625. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .308 or higher every time they've taken the field this season.
St. Petersburg Catholic's loss dropped their record down to 1-4. As for Shorecrest Prep, their victory bumped their record up to 5-1.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. St. Petersburg Catholic has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .540. However, it's not like Shorecrest Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .493. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
St. Petersburg Catholic suffered a grim 20-4 defeat to Shorecrest Prep when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Will St. Petersburg Catholic have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
