Aztecs
| 03/27/25 vs Schurr | 2 |
| 03/24/25 @ Muir | 4 |
| 03/21/25 @ El Monte | 10 |
| 03/20/25 vs Montebello | 11 |
| + 6 more games |
Mark Keppel and Bell Gardens are an even 5-5 against one another since March of 2019, but likely not for long. After both having extra time off, the two teams will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Mark Keppel is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.6 runs per game this season.
Mark Keppel is probably headed into the match with a chip on their shoulder considering Schurr just ended the team's six-game winning streak last Thursday. They came up short against the Spartans, falling 15-2. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Aztecs, who until this game were averaging 3.64 runs allowed.
Mark Keppel saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Lauren Young, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Bell Gardens never got on the board in their matchup last Tuesday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Alhambra last Thursday. They walked away with a 17-12 victory over the Moors. The win continues a trend for the Lancers in their matchups with the Moors: they've now won three in a row.
Gabriella Alvarado was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she tossed seven innings while giving up four earned (and eight unearned) runs off nine hits. Alvarado was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3. What's more, she posted three RBI, the most she's had since back in February.
In other batting news, Bell Gardens let Jailene Roman and Nayeli Gomez run wild. Roman got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, three runs, and three RBI, while Gomez went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one triple. That's the most RBI Roman has posted since back in February. Another player making a difference was Sofia Galvan, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Bell Gardens always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .550. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Mark Keppel's defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 8-3. As for Bell Gardens, their victory bumped their record up to 10-7.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Mark Keppel hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .369. However, it's not like Bell Gardens struggles in that department as they've averaged .337. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mark Keppel took their win against Bell Gardens in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 10-0 score. Do the Aztecs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Lancers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
