Clay has gone a perfect 10-0 against Menendez recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. Clay will look to defend their home field against Menendez at 7:00 p.m. Clay is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.4 runs per game this season.
On Thursday, Clay earned a 6-1 victory over Providence School. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Blue Devils.
Malia Collins
| 03/27/25 vs Providence School | 8 |
| 03/11/25 vs Fleming Island | 5 |
| 02/27/25 @ Orange Park | 4 |
| 02/23/24 @ Ponte Vedra | 4 |
| 02/21/25 @ Baldwin | 3 |
Malia Collins spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on four hits and racked up eight Ks. Those eight strikeouts gave her a new career-high.
On the hitting side, Brooke Hamilton was excellent, going 2-for-4 with one triple, one run, and one double. Amiah Carrubba was another key player, scoring two runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Menendez was able to grind out a solid win over Beachside on Tuesday, taking the game 7-4. The Falcons haven't had any issues with the Barracudas recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Ava Christman looked comfortable as she pitched four innings while giving up just two earned runs off five hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Rylan Degrande, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Ava Carter, who scored a run while going 1-for-4.
Menendez kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Clay's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-4. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Menendez, they now have a winning record of 6-5.
Friday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Clay hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .315. However, it's not like Menendez struggles in that department as they've averaged .331. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Clay skirted past Menendez 1-0 when the teams last played back in April of 2021. Does Clay have another victory up their sleeve, or will Menendez turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
