The Excel Christian Warriors will face off against the Wells Leopards at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
If Excel Christian beats Wells with 19 runs on Saturday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Warriors put the hurt on Coleville with a sharp 19-2 win on Tuesday. Winning may never get old, but the Warriors sure are getting used to it with their seventh in a row.
The team relied heavily on Luc Mandes, who went 3-for-4 with six RBI, two stolen bases, and three runs. Tommy Schoech was another key player, scoring two runs while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Excel Christian always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .581. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .543 or higher in five consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Wells had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.7 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Saturday. Everything went their way against the Muckers as they made off with a 20-3 victory. That 17 run margin sets a new team best for the Leopards this season.
Cesar Beruman made a splash while hitting and pitching. He struck out six batters over two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. He was even better at the plate, going 3-for-4 with five RBI, one triple, and one run. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in March.
In other batting news, Tristen Zimmerman was a standout: he scored three runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-3. That's the most runs he has posted since back in March. The team also got some help courtesy of Gage Uhlig, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Excel Christian's win was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-1-1. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.9 runs over those games. As for Wells, their record now sits at 11-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Excel Christian has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Wells struggles in that department as they've been averaging 9.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Excel Christian came out on top in a nail-biter against Wells when the teams last played back in May of 2024, sneaking past 7-6. Will the Warriors repeat their success, or do the Leopards have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
