The Bethel Christian Kings will face off against the Mesa Grande Academy Cardinals at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
While Bethel Christian's victory against Calvary Baptist wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Kings sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 14-13 win over the Cougars on Tuesday.
Maliyah Jarrett made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over 3.1 innings while giving up three earned (and four unearned) runs off only two hits. Those nine strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, four stolen bases, and four runs. She is also on a roll when it comes to RBI, as she's now brought in three or more in each of the last three games she's played.
Monroe Kamio
| 04/08/25 vs Calvary Baptist | 4 |
| 04/04/25 @ Cornerstone Christian | 3 |
| 03/17/25 @ Loma Linda Academy | 3 |
| 03/31/25 vs Redlands Adventist Academy | 1 |
| 03/27/25 vs Sherman Indian | 1 |
In other batting news, Monroe Kamio was incredible, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and one run. Those four RBI gave her a new career-high. Jada Aldridge was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-5.
Bethel Christian always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .526. They are 8-2 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Mesa Grande Academy made easy work of Desert Chapel on Tuesday and carried off a 23-5 victory. That 18 run margin sets a new team best for the Cardinals this season.
Like Bethel Christian, Mesa Grande Academy also got a great game from a two-way player: Melody Bender. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single hit while striking out nine over five innings pitched. Bender also put up nine walks, which were her first of the season. She was also big at the plate, scoring four runs and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Mesa Grande Academy got a massive performance out of Allie Purse, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 2-for-2. That run marked the first that Purse scored this season. Another player making a difference was Julianne Wills, who scored four runs and stole two bases while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Bethel Christian is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-6 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.1 runs over those games. As for Mesa Grande Academy, they pushed their record up to 3-1 with the victory, which was their third straight on the road.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Bethel Christian hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .430. However, it's not like Mesa Grande Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .439. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bethel Christian took their win against Mesa Grande Academy when the teams last played back in April of 2022 by a conclusive 23-6 score. Will the Kings repeat their success, or do the Cardinals have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
