For the second straight game, Tooele will face off against Juan Diego Catholic. The Buffaloes will welcome the Soaring Eagle at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Tooele has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the game with five straight defeats, while Juan Diego Catholic will come in with three straight wins.
On Wednesday, Tooele came up short against Juan Diego Catholic and fell 5-1. That's two games in a row now that the Buffaloes have lost by exactly four runs.
For Juan Diego Catholic's part, Castle Huggard was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he tossed seven innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits. Huggard has become a key player for Juan Diego Catholic: the team is 3-1 when he allows at most two earned runs, but 9-10 otherwise. Huggard was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one home run.
In other batting news, Tage McKinley was incredible, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. Juan Diego Catholic is undefeated when McKinley posts two or more stolen bases, but 9-11 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Hayden Mezenen, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one double.
Juan Diego Catholic hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They are a perfect 3-0 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Juan Diego Catholic pushed their record up to 12-11 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.2 runs over those games. As for Tooele, their loss dropped their record down to 6-17.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Tooele hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .331. However, it's not like Juan Diego Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .333. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
