The Kennedy Crusaders will head out on the road to take on the Hancock Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Kennedy will be strutting in after a victory while Hancock will be coming in after a loss.
Kennedy took a loss when they played away from home two weeks ago, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Bulls College Prep with a sharp 18-0 win. The Crusaders have beaten the Bulls the last six times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Bulls has come to flipping the script.
Ariel Huerta was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Shanelle McBride, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs and three RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Kennedy kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bulls College Prep didn't got any.
Meanwhile, Hancock was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their sixth straight defeat dating back to last season. They took a 10-5 hit to the loss column at the hands of ITW David Speer Academy.
Alyssa Diaz spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered six earned (and four unearned) runs on 11 hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Madelynn Dejesus made the most of her time in the batter's box despite the final result and went 1-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs. Chloe Dougherty was another key player, going 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Kennedy's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-2. As for Hancock, their loss dropped their record down to 0-3.
Hancock's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Kennedy has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 8.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Hancock, though, as they've been averaging 12.7 hits. Given Kennedy's sizable advantage in that area, the Eagles will need to find a way to close that gap.
Kennedy couldn't quite get it done against Hancock in their previous matchup back in May of 2025 as they fell 7-3. Can the Crusaders avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
