The Highland Bulldogs will head out to take on the West Ranch Wildcats at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Highland is coming into the matchup hot, having won their last three games.
On Friday, Highland got the win against Eastside by a conclusive 13-1. Considering the Bulldogs have won six games by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Landon Manzano made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Manzano was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one triple. That triple marked the first that he hit this season.
In other batting news, Mateo Dominguez was a standout: he scored two runs while going 2-for-3. What's more, he posted three RBI, the most he's had since back in February. Another player making a difference was Hudson Harding, who went 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Highland kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. They are 7-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, it may have taken nine innings to finish the job, but West Ranch ultimately got the result they hoped for last Friday. They walked away with an 8-5 victory over Valencia. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Wildcats.
Mikey Murr was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He tossed 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Nolan Stoll, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4. Ryan Oh was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
West Ranch pushed their record up to 12-6 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.3 runs over those games. As for Highland, their record is now 11-6-1.
Saturday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Highland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .435. However, it's not like West Ranch struggles in that department as they've averaged .435. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
