Mt. Rainier hasn't had much luck against Kennedy Catholic recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Rams will look to defend their home field against the Lancers at 4:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Mt. Rainier 3, Kennedy Catholic 3.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Auburn Riverside hit Mt. Rainier with a five-run fourth inning on Wednesday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Rams fell 7-4 to the Ravens.
Jack Fenton was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one double, and one RBI. Nolan Enghusen was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Kennedy Catholic, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Tuesday. They had just enough and edged out Kentwood 4-3 on Wednesday.
Harvey Lieberman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned (and one unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 11 Ks. He has been consistent: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Brayden Seiber was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI. Those three runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jesse LaBella, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Kennedy Catholic kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Kennedy Catholic's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-6. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.6 runs on average over those games. As for Mt. Rainier, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Mt. Rainier has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Kennedy Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
