Norco has won three straight games at home, while Bonita has won three straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Thursday. A feisty cat fight will be fought as Norco Cougars challenge Bonita Bearcats at 6:30 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Norco 2.2, Bonita 3.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Norco is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of California's top teams: Temecula Valley, who was ranked 11th at the time (Norco was ranked 24th). The Cougars didn't even let the Golden Bears on the board on Wednesday, marking the Cougars' second-straight 8-0 shutout. The Cougars' pitching crew has been rock solid lately; the team hasn't given up a run in their last four matches.
Jordan Ayala was a major factor no matter where he played. He didn't allow a single earned run over five innings pitched. He also tossed no walks, which is notable because Norco is 3-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 4-5 otherwise. Ayala was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-3. That's the most hits he has posted since back in February.
In other pitching news, Vincent Rodriquez looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has become a key player for Norco: the team is 3-1 when he allows at most two hits, but 4-5 otherwise.
Dylan Seward
| 04/02/25 vs Temecula Valley | 3 |
| 04/01/25 vs Downers Grove South | 2 |
| 03/29/25 vs Los Osos | 2 |
| 03/04/25 @ Summit | 1 |
| 02/17/25 @ Great Oak | 1 |
Back at the plate, Dylan Seward was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Norco's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 4-6 when he doesn't). Kevin Leon was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one double and one RBI.
Norco kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 12 runs the game before, Bonita was a bit more limited in their game on Wednesday. They took a 4-1 hit to the loss column at the hands of Great Oak. The loss continues a trend for the Bearcats in their meetings with the Wolfpack: they've now lost three in a row.
Bonita also got a good showing from Camden Farina, who pitched four innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. Farina has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Bonita saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Josh Angely, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-2.
Bonita's defeat dropped their record down to 8-6. As for Norco, they now have a winning record of 7-6.
Everything went Norco's way against Bonita in their previous meeting back in April of 2023, as Norco made off with a 10-3 victory. Do the Cougars have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bearcats turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
