Cardinal Newman is 1-9 against King's Academy since March of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Crusaders will head out to face off against the Lions at 5:00 p.m. Cardinal Newman has given up an average of 9.1 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Cardinal Newman's last matchup with Palm Beach Central could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's contest on Tuesday. The Crusaders came up short against the Broncos, falling 17-6. The Crusaders just can't catch a break and have now endured seven losses in a row.
Sydney Mahoney was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3. Karis Taleff was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when King's Academy faced off against Somerset Academy - Canyons on Tuesday. The Lions put the hurt on the Cougars with a sharp 10-0 win. The Lions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 11 matches by seven runs or more this season.
The result came thanks to Caroline Duncan's shutout, as she gave up just two hits and racked up 12 Ks. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.4 strikeouts per game.
On the hitting side, Gracyn Needle was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI. Another player making a difference was Hailey Adkins, who scored three runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
King's Academy was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. They are a perfect 10-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
King's Academy is on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a nice bump to their 11-3 record this season. The team dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 11.8 runs. As for Cardinal Newman, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-11.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Cardinal Newman hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .314. However, it's not like King's Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .422. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Cardinal Newman skirted past King's Academy 3-2 in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Crusaders repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
