Chino Hills hasn't had much luck against Damien recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Huskies will take on the Spartans at 3:15 p.m. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Chino Hills took a 13-run loss the last time they faced off against Etiwanda, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Huskies had just enough and edged out the Eagles 5-4. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last three times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Aydan Maxson
| 04/18/25 vs Etiwanda | 9 |
| 03/26/25 vs Santa Fe | 6 |
| 03/18/25 @ Charter Oak | 5 |
| 02/20/25 vs Don Lugo | 4 |
| 04/12/25 vs Los Osos | 2 |
Chino Hills got a great performance from Aydan Maxson as he struck out nine batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. Those nine strikeouts gave Maxson a new career-high.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Branden Kim, who got on base in two of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base. Matt Mendez was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two doubles.
Chino Hills hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters in ten consecutive games.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Damien). They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 9-7 victory over Upland on Thursday. The Spartans haven't had any issues with the Highlanders/Scots recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Russell Del Castillo tossed a big game, pitching six innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off four hits. He also tossed a walk, which is notable because Damien is 5-1 when he allows at most two walks, but 6-7 otherwise.
On the hitting side, Elius Kelly was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three runs and one triple. Ryan Gonzalez also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Chino Hills' record is now 12-7. As for Damien, their record now sits at 11-8.
Chino Hills' speedy runners might be the difference in Monday's contest. The Huskies have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Damien, though, as they've been averaging only 1.2 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Chino Hills continue to outrun the ball? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
