The Bishop Verot Vikings will challenge the Calvary Christian Warriors at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Bishop Verot comes in on three and Calvary Christian on nine.
Bishop Verot is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Tuesday. They won by a run and slipped past Berkeley Prep 6-5. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Vikings have posted since February 27, 2024.
Crimson Lawrence was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 15 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Willa Pagnutti, who went 2-for-4 with three runs and one triple. McKenna Robbins was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one double.
Meanwhile, Calvary Christian put their dominant pitcher on display in the team's fourth consecutive shutout on Tuesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Tampa Catholic a 10-0 shutout. Considering the Warriors have won 17 matchups by more than five runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Like Bishop Verot, Calvary Christian also got a great game from a two-way player: Morgen Talley. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 12 over six innings pitched. Talley was also big at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Emma Bell was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Braylee Rano, who went 2-for-3 with three runs and one stolen base.
Calvary Christian kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least 13 hits in three consecutive games.
Calvary Christian's win was their 23rd straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 27-1. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.5 runs over those games. As for Bishop Verot, their win bumped their record up to 18-7.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Bishop Verot hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .330. However, it's not like Calvary Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .365. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bishop Verot came up short against Calvary Christian when the teams last played back in May of 2023, falling 3-0. Can the Vikings avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
