After both having extra time off, the Cardinal Newman Crusaders and the Palm Beach Central Broncos will shake off the rust and duke it out at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The timing isn't great for Cardinal Newman: they have been struggling with five straight losses at home, while Palm Beach Central has snatched up six consecutive wins on the road.
Cardinal Newman lost 14-3 to Boca Raton last Thursday.
Elle Perrotto was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base and two RBI.
Even though they lost, Cardinal Newman hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. This was only their first loss (out of three games) when they post two or more strikeouts.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Palm Beach Central). They put the hurt on Olympic Heights with a sharp 27-12 victory last Thursday. The Broncos haven't had any issues with the Lions recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive win against them.
Ava Regoli was a standout: she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and two doubles. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2024. Samantha Yaques was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and four RBI.
Cardinal Newman's loss dropped their record down to 3-10. As for Palm Beach Central, their victory bumped their record up to 7-4.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Cardinal Newman hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .322. However, it's not like Palm Beach Central struggles in that department as they've averaged .316. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Cardinal Newman couldn't quite finish off Palm Beach Central in their previous meeting back in February and fell 5-3. Will Cardinal Newman have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
