Canterbury hasn't had much luck against Indian Rocks Christian recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Crusaders will head out on the road to face off against the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. Canterbury will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Canterbury is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They came out on top against Lakeside Christian by a score of 8-5.
Brooks Merrill was incredible, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, one triple, and one run. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Colton Tarver, who scored two runs while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Canterbury always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .588. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lakeside Christian only posted an OBP of .343.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Indian Rocks Christian and Saint Stephen's Episcopal, and Indian Rocks Christian kept the tradition alive. The Eagles were the clear victors by a 9-0 margin over the Falcons on Monday. The Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine matches by six runs or more this season.
The result came thanks to Ethan Beswetherick's shutout, as he gave up just three hits and racked up six Ks. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Cooper Ryan, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. That triple marked the first that he hit this season. Hunter Maddox was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Canterbury's record is now 11-4. As for Indian Rocks Christian, their record now sits at 15-10-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Canterbury has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 11.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Indian Rocks Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Canterbury couldn't quite finish off Indian Rocks Christian when the teams last played two weeks ago and fell 3-1. Can the Crusaders avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
