El Camino hasn't had much luck against Carlsbad recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Wildcats will welcome the Lancers at 4:00 p.m. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a three-game winning streak alive.
On Thursday, El Camino made easy work of Canyon Crest Academy and carried off a 9-3 victory. The result was nothing new for the Wildcats, who have now won 11 matches by six runs or more so far this season.
Kayla Layland tossed a big game, pitching five innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 13 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Bella Mendoza and Makayla Boone did most of the damage at the plate: Mendoza went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI, while Boone went 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Kailey Dain, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
El Camino was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .385. They are 11-1 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, Carlsbad sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 5-4 win over La Costa Canyon on Thursday.
Sofia Tillis spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on ten hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Autumn Muro, who fired off two home runs, three runs, and three RBI while going 3-for-4. Those three RBI gave her a new career-high.
El Camino's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 16-8. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.3 runs on average over those games. As for Carlsbad, their victory bumped their record up to 6-13.
El Camino's speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's game. The Wildcats have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.4 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Carlsbad, though, as they've been averaging only 0.7 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will El Camino continue to outrun the ball?
El Camino suffered a grim 9-0 defeat to Carlsbad in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Will the Wildcats 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.
