The Sotomayor WILDCATS will square off against the Taft Raiders at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Sotomayor comes in on three and Taft on four.
Sotomayor had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the nine-run drubbing they dealt Stevens on Tuesday. Sotomayor was the clear victors by a 14-5 margin over Stevens. The result was nothing new for the WILDCATS, who have now won three games by nine runs or more so far this season.
Penelope Flores made a splash no matter where she played. She struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits. Those hits marked the first that she allowed this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with three RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Anaya Maddox, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season. London Echavarria was another key player, going 2-for-5 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
Sotomayor hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Stevens struck out six times.
Meanwhile, Taft earned a 6-1 win over Warren on Tuesday.
Alyssa Rangel spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on one hit and racked up 15 Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Hannah Flores was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, three RBI, and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Kaylee Sanchez, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3.
Taft's victory was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 10-2. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.2 runs on average over those games. As for Sotomayor, their win bumped their record up to 6-4.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Sotomayor has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .528. However, it's not like Taft struggles in that department as they've averaged .580. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Sotomayor skirted past Taft 5-4 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Does Sotomayor have another victory up their sleeve, or will Taft turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
