Juan Diego Catholic is on a three-game streak of home wins, while Providence Hall is on a seven-game streak of away wins (dating back to last season): one of those streaks is about to end. The Soaring Eagle will host the Patriots at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Juan Diego Catholic barely beat American Leadership Academy the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Soaring Eagle were the clear victors by a 20-1 margin over the Eagles on Thursday. The win continues a trend for the Soaring Eagle in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now won seven in a row.
Ellie Palmer was a major factor no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit over four innings pitched. Palmer was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Mattie Montoya and Taelah Dick did most of the damage at the plate: Montoya got on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs, one triple, and two RBI, while Dick scored three runs while going 2-for-2. That's the most hits Dick has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Oaklee Thomas, who scored three runs while going 3-for-4.
Juan Diego Catholic hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters in nine consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Providence Hall got themselves on the board against Judge Memorial Catholic on Thursday, but Judge Memorial Catholic never followed suit. They put the hurt on the Bulldogs with a sharp 18-0 victory.
Like Juan Diego Catholic, Providence Hall also got a great game from a two-way player: Nena Garcia. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and only one walk). Garcia has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBI.
In other batting news, Providence Hall let Madelyn Johnson and Kehndryx Isakson run wild. Johnson went 1-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple, while Isakson scored three runs while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. That triple was Johnson's first of the season. Hailey Lenz was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-2.
Providence Hall has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven games. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 18.6 runs over those games. As for Juan Diego Catholic, their victory bumped their record up to 10-6.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Juan Diego Catholic hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .427. However, it's not like Providence Hall struggles in that department as they've averaged .435. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
