Freedom is a perfect 4-0 against Lake Buena Vista since March of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Monday. The Patriots will face off against the Vipers at 7:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
As a matter of fact, Freedom put up the most runs they have all season on Friday. They blew past Legacy Charter 12-2. The win was nothing new for the Patriots as they're now sitting on three straight.
Marcus Alf looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over four innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits in seven consecutive appearances.
Juan Pablo Gatica
| 04/04/25 vs Legacy Charter | 2 |
| 04/02/25 vs Davenport | 1 |
| 03/07/25 vs Boone | 1 |
| 03/05/25 vs East River | 1 |
| 02/18/25 @ Orangewood Christian | 1 |
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Juan Pablo Gatica, who scored two runs while going 2-for-2. Those two runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jay Martinez, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
Freedom kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 4.2 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matchups they've averaged 9.2.
Meanwhile, Lake Buena Vista got the win against Oak Ridge on Thursday by a conclusive 16-3. That looming 16-3 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Vipers yet this season.
Jason Perez and Aldahir Barroso were a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Perez tossed 1.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Barroso didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over 5.2 innings pitched. Perez also tossed no walks, which is notable because Lake Buena Vista is 3-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 7-10 otherwise. At the plate, Perez scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances, while Barroso scored two runs while going 3-for-5. Barroso also hit a double, marking his first of the season.
In other batting news, Dixson Gil was excellent, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his five plate appearances. He has become a key player for Lake Buena Vista: the team is undefeated when he posts at least two runs, but 7-11 otherwise. Nicholas Rodriguez Jr. also deserves some recognition as he scored his first run of the season.
Freedom's record is now 8-13. As for Lake Buena Vista, their record now sits at 10-11.
Freedom came out on top in a nail-biter against Lake Buena Vista when the teams last played back in April of 2024, sneaking past 6-4. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Patriots since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
