Lions
| 04/09/25 @ Wickenburg | 6 |
| 04/04/25 @ Mountainside | 18 |
| 03/28/25 vs ALA - Anthem South | 11 |
| 03/26/25 vs Kingman Academy | 9 |
| 03/24/25 vs Miami | 10 |
| + 7 more games |
The St. John Paul II Catholic Lions will head out to face off against the Chandler Prep Titans at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. St. John Paul II Catholic is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.1 runs per game this season.
St. John Paul II Catholic is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Wickenburg just ended the team's seven-game winning streak on Wednesday. They came up short against the Wranglers, falling 16-6. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Lions have suffered since March 11th.
Francisco Vasquez made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and got on base in two of his three plate appearances with three stolen bases. Jonathan Martinez also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Chandler Prep). They never let San Carlos get on the board and left with a 24-0 victory on Wednesday. Considering the Titans have won seven games by more than seven runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Colman Smith and Emet Yates were a major factor no matter where they played. On the mound, Smith pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Yates tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits in six consecutive appearances. At bat, Smith scored two runs while going 1-for-2, while Yates scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
In other pitching news, Aidan Allen looked comfortable as he pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits.
Back at the plate, Ryan Hong was incredible, scoring four runs while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances. Isaac Swanson was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-3.
Chandler Prep's win was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-4. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for St. John Paul II Catholic, their defeat was their first in the region, dropping their region record down to 3-1 and their overall record down to 9-3.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. St. John Paul II Catholic has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .446. However, it's not like Chandler Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .454. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
