The Charlotte Latin Hawks will square off against the Union Academy Cardinals at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Charlotte Latin is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
Charlotte Latin took a six-run loss the last time they faced off against Charlotte Christian, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Hawks sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-5 victory over the Knights on Thursday.
Avery Booker made a splash no matter where he played. He struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two RBI, one run, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jaden Hawa, who went 3-for-5 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March. Hudson Shoup was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Union Academy duked it out with Carmel Christian on Tuesday. The Cardinals took a 5-2 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Cougars.
Union Academy also got a good showing from Brett Moore, who struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just two earned runs off eight hits (and only one walk). What's more, Moore gave up only one walk, the fewest he's had since back in March.
At the plate, Union Academy saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Zamarion Shine, who went 1-for-4 with one stolen base and one run.
Charlotte Latin pushed their record up to 17-3 with the win, which was their eighth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.6 runs over those games. As for Union Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to 8-13.
Charlotte Latin's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's game. The Hawks have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Union Academy, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Charlotte Latin continue to outrun the ball?
Charlotte Latin took their win against Union Academy when the teams last played back in March by a conclusive 11-0 score. Do the Hawks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cardinals turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
