The Gulf Coast Sharks will face off against the Schoolhouse Prep Wolfpack at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Gulf Coast has eight straight victories, Schoolhouse Prep has eight straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
On Thursday, Gulf Coast got the win against Bonita Springs by a conclusive 17-11. The Sharks might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven games by six runs or more this season.
Taylor Stalling
| 04/10/25 vs Bonita Springs | 6 |
| 04/08/25 @ Palmetto Ridge | 7 |
| 04/04/25 @ Naples | 10 |
| 04/01/25 vs Barron Collier | 7 |
| 03/27/25 @ Riverdale | 9 |
Taylor Stalling made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over 4.1 innings while giving up just one earned run off five hits (and not a single walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Emma Caetano was incredible, going 4-for-5 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Hannah Rearden, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Gulf Coast hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bonita Springs struck out eight times.
Meanwhile, Schoolhouse Prep lost 12-5 to Somerset Academy (Silver Palms) on Wednesday.
Francela Verdura was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Valeria Vazquez was another key player, going 1-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Gulf Coast's win was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-1. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.6 runs over those games. As for Schoolhouse Prep, their loss dropped their record down to 5-9.
Schoolhouse Prep's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Gulf Coast has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .475. It's a different story for Schoolhouse Prep, though, as they've only averaged .355. Will they be able to contain Gulf Coast's hitters? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
