The Saugus Centurions will take on the Hamilton Huskies at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average, (Saugus 2.3, Hamilton 2.4) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Saugus saw some tournament action on Friday. They were the clear victor by an 11-3 margin over Rio Rancho. The Centurions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won four contests by eight runs or more this season.
Taliya Mata looked comfortable as she struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just two earned runs off six hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Olivia Frias was a standout: she scored two runs while going 2-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Malia Horvat, who scored two runs while going 1-for-1.
Meanwhile, Hamilton narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past JSerra Catholic 3-1.
Liliana Russo tossed a big game, striking out eight batters over six innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits (and not a single walk). That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in April of 2024.
At the plate, Hamilton's win was truly a team effort as six different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Campbell Stewart, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
The victory made it two in a row for Saugus and bumps their season record up to 6-1. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.5 runs on average over those games. As for Hamilton, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Saturday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Saugus has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .448. However, it's not like Hamilton struggles in that department as they've averaged .437. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Saugus might still be hurting after the 10-0 loss they got from Hamilton in their previous matchup back in February of 2024. Can Saugus avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
