Tampa Catholic is 1-9 against Berkeley Prep since April of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Crusaders will welcome the Buccaneers at 6:00 p.m. Berkeley Prep took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Tampa Catholic, who comes in off a win.
Tampa Catholic will roll into the contest after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs last Wednesday, then bounced right back against Shorecrest Prep on Wednesday. The Crusaders were the clear victors by a 10-2 margin over the Chargers. Considering the Crusaders' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Olivia Ricciardi spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on three hits and racked up 14 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 12 consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Jada Johnson and Josslynn Grimsley did most of the damage at the plate: Johnson went 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs, while Grimsley scored two runs while going 3-for-4. That's the most hits Johnson has posted since back in February. Aubrey Beauchaine was another key player, scoring a run and stealing three bases while going 2-for-3.
They weren't the only one making solid contact: Tampa Catholic kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Berkeley Prep fought the good fight in their extra-innings matchup against Steinbrenner on Wednesday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Warriors by a score of 6-4. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Buccaneers have suffered since March 1st.
Berkeley Prep also let their pitcher toss all ten innings and she was also dialed-in: Avery Powers gave up just two earned (and two unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 13 Ks.
At the plate, Avery Malin made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and scored two runs while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Paige Quinn, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
Tampa Catholic now has a winning record of 8-7. As for Berkeley Prep, their defeat dropped their record down to 10-6.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Tampa Catholic has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Berkeley Prep struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 8.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Tampa Catholic couldn't quite finish off Berkeley Prep in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 and fell 2-0. Will the Crusaders have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
