Northridge Academy is 0-3 against Cleveland since February of 2022 but things could change on Thursday. The Northridge Academy Pumas will head out on the road to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at 3:00 p.m. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Wednesday, Northridge Academy made easy work of North Hollywood and carried off a 12-2 win. The victory continues a trend for the Pumas in their matchups with the Huskies: they've now won four in a row.
Alondra Laguna made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over six innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits. Laguna was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs.
In other batting news, Jackie Nettles was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Val Montes, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and one double.
Northridge Academy lost a few balls and finished the game with four home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since the start of last season.
Meanwhile, Cleveland came into Wednesday's contest having lost seven straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. They came out on top against Sylmar by a score of 4-1 on Wednesday.
Olivia Nutt spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one walk any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Jessica Van Zyl, who went 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run. Kylie Preis was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
Cleveland's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Northridge Academy, their record is now 2-0.
Northridge Academy might still be hurting after the 11-1 loss they got from Cleveland in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can Northridge Academy avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
