The River Islands Riptide will square off against the Ripon Christian Knights at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
River Islands is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Mariposa County with a sharp 8-1 victory. The win was nothing new for the Riptide as they're now sitting on four straight.
The team relied heavily on Daryl Carpenter, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI and one double. Keoni Cervantez was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one run.
Ripon Christian came out on top against Sonora on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run third inning. The Knights were the clear victors by a 12-2 margin over the Wildcats. The victory continues a trend for the Knights in their matchups with the Wildcats: they've now won four in a row.
Trenton Cloward made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and one run.
In other batting news, Stadtler Postma was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with five stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs. Those five stolen bases gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jackson Howell, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Ripon Christian hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Sonora struck out eight times.
River Islands' record is now 15-7. As for Ripon Christian, their record now sits at 24-3.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. River Islands has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .462. However, it's not like Ripon Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .484. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
