The Harvest Christian Academy Saints will face off against the Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric Lions at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric will be up against a hot Harvest Christian Academy team: the squad just extended their winning streak to seven. The Saints were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over St. Paul's Prep on Thursday.
Elijah Cleary
| 04/17/25 vs St. Paul's Prep | 2 |
| 04/14/25 @ Heritage Christian Academy | 0 |
| 04/05/25 @ Prestonwood Christian North | 2 |
| 03/25/25 @ Trinity Christian Academy | 2 |
| 03/17/25 @ Lakehill Prep | 1 |
| + 2 more games |
Elijah Cleary was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He didn't allow a single earned run over 4.1 innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one triple and two RBI.
In other batting news, Brody Ticknor was a standout: he went a perfect 4-for-4 with four stolen bases, four runs, and two RBI. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Jase French, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple.
Harvest Christian Academy kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least ten hits in six consecutive matches.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Lions last Friday. Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric blew past Heritage Christian Academy 9-1.
Like Harvest Christian Academy, Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric also got a great game from a two-way player: Gabe Gerth. He looked comfortable on the mound, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 14 over 5.1 innings pitched. Gerth also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 2-5 otherwise. Gerth was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season.
In other batting news, Nathan Latchem was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, two doubles, and one RBI.
Harvest Christian Academy's win was their 12th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 18-2. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric, their win ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 4-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Harvest Christian Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.4 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Harvest Christian Academy's way against Coram Deo Academy Rhetoric in their previous meeting two weeks ago, as Harvest Christian Academy made off with an 18-0 victory. Will the Saints repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
