The Paul VI Panthers will head out to take on the Bishop McNamara Mustangs at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Paul VI barely beat Bishop Ireton the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Panthers were the clear victors by an 11-5 margin over the Cardinals on Thursday. The result was nothing new for the Panthers, who have now won five matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Paul VI got a massive performance out of Maria Dozier, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one double. The team also got some help courtesy of Ashley Robinson, who scored three runs while going 4-for-5.
Paul VI was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .450. They are 3-1 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Bishop McNamara). They put the hurt on Smith Jewish Day School with a sharp 20-2 win on Thursday. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Mustangs with their most commanding win of the season.
Koryn Otey made a splash no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single hit and allowed only one earned run while striking out eight over four innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
In other batting news, Jaslyne Ivey was a standout: she went a perfect 3-for-3 with four runs, three RBI, and one triple. That triple was her first of the season. Alyssa Scatliffe was another key player, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two stolen bases, and two runs.
Bishop McNamara has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four games. That's provided a nice bump to their 3-3 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Paul VI, the win was the third in a row for them, bringing their record up to 5-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Paul VI has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 11.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Bishop McNamara struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Everything went Paul VI's way against Bishop McNamara in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Paul VI made off with a 14-3 victory. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Mustangs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
