We've got a battle between Lions coming up. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Mira Monte has struggled recently with five defeats in a row, while Legacy Christian Academy will arrive with four straight victories.
Mira Monte fell victim to Santa Maria and their airtight pitching crew on Friday. They lost 10-0 to the Saints. The contest marked the first time this season in which the Lions were not able to get on the board.
Mira Monte saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aaron Oliveros, who went 2-for-3 with one triple and one stolen base. That triple marked the first that Oliveros hit this season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Legacy Christian Academy). They never let Alpaugh get on the board and left with an 18-0 win on Tuesday. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Lions with their most commanding win of the season.
Chase Newlen and Carter Burich were a major factor while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Newlen struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Burich tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Newlen has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. At bat, Newlen scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2, while Burich went a perfect 4-for-4 with five RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tyler Howlett, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI. Zakary Altenhofel was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Legacy Christian Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .676. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Legacy Christian Academy's victory bumped their record up to 7-1-1. As for Mira Monte, their loss dropped their record down to 2-6.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mira Monte has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .453. However, it's not like Legacy Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .451. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mira Monte came up short against Legacy Christian Academy when the teams last played back in February, falling 7-2. Can Mira Monte avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
