Rancho Christian is 0-3 against Rancho Verde since March of 2024 but things could change on Thursday. The Eagles will challenge the Mustangs at 3:15 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Eagles two weeks ago. Rancho Christian came out on top against Capistrano Valley Christian by a score of 7-3. The victory made it back-to-back wins for Rancho Christian.
The team relied heavily on Hailey Whitman, who fired off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-3. Kaydence Erickson was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and one stolen base.
Whitman wasn't the only one working in the home run department: Rancho Christian lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since the start of last season.
Meanwhile, Rancho Verde got the win against Fontana on Tuesday by a conclusive 9-2. The result was nothing new for the Mustangs, who have now won four matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.
Isabelle Sena spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on three hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Aubrey Castro was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Serenity Menendez, who scored two runs while going 1-for-3.
Rancho Verde is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-3 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.4 runs on average over those games. As for Rancho Christian, their record now sits at 2-0.
Rancho Christian might still be hurting after the 16-6 defeat they got from Rancho Verde when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Eagles avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
