The Coronado Islanders will venture away from home to challenge the Brawley Wildcats at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Coronado is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.7 runs per game this season.
Coronado is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Tri-City Christian 6-4. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Islanders as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Quinn Smock spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four runs (all of which were unearned) on four hits and racked up six Ks.
At the plate, Jersey Cunningham was excellent, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double. Another player making a difference was Natalie Fay, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Brawley got themselves on the board against Tri-City Christian last Monday, but Tri-City Christian never followed suit. They came out on top against the Eagles by a score of 3-0.
The result came thanks to Daniella Yescas's shutout, as she gave up just five hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than one walk in six consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Demi Cornejo, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March.
Coronado's record now sits at 16-10-1. As for Brawley, their record is now 16-10.
Wednesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Coronado hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .336. However, it's not like Brawley struggles in that department as they've averaged .340. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Coronado suffered a grim 7-1 defeat to Brawley when the teams last played back in March of 2022. Can the Islanders avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.