Monroe Catholic is 1-7 against North Pole since April of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Rams will host the Patriots at 5:30 p.m. Monroe Catholic is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.6 runs per game this season.
Monroe Catholic is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Alaska's top teams: West Valley, who was ranked 13th at the time (Monroe Catholic was ranked 16th). The Rams fell just short of the Wolf Pack by a score of 9-7 on Tuesday.
Anya Chernich
| 05/13/25 @ West Valley | 7 |
| 05/12/25 vs Hutchison | 6 |
| 05/08/25 vs Lathrop | 8 |
| 05/02/25 vs Delta | 6 |
| 05/02/25 vs Delta | 8 |
Anya Chernich was huge while hitting and pitching even without the win. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and seven unearned) runs off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
In other batting news, Leyton Cortez made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Francesca Yanish, who went 2-for-3 with one triple and one double.
Meanwhile, North Pole narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Hutchison 13-11. The victory continues a trend for the Patriots in their matchups with the Hawks: they've now won three in a row.
North Pole let Baylee Borgen and Jordi Darby run wild. Borgen got on base in three of her four plate appearances with three RBI and two runs, while Darby got on base in four of her five plate appearances with three runs and one double. Kiah Weimer was another key player, earning one RBI and two runs.
North Pole's win bumped their record up to 4-9. As for Monroe Catholic, their loss dropped their record down to 6-3.
Thursday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Monroe Catholic has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .627. However, it's not like North Pole struggles in that department as they've averaged .480. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Monroe Catholic suffered a grim 16-5 defeat to North Pole when the teams last played back in May of 2022. Will the Rams have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
