Boylan Lady Titans shutout Dixon for a 2A regional soccer championship
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Boylan Lady Titans were tough to beat during the regular season when they went undefeated in NIC-10 play. Nothing has changed in the postseason.Saturday morning, Boylan defeated Dixon 4-0 at Titan Stadium for a 2A regional championship. It's Boylan's 11th shutout this season.Joscelyn Posada, Ava Galluzzo and Zoey Schmidt scored goals in the first half for Boylan. Delilah Hawley added another in the second half.Boylan's overall record improves to 15-2-2. The Lady Titans advance to the 2A Belvidere Sectional next week. They'll play in a semifinal game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Maple Park Kaneland.For highlights of this game, watch the media player above.
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According to Baseball Savant, Houston's pitching staff is worth a minus-13 net bases prevented and entered Sunday allowing 56 extra bases gained by either steals or balks. Again, only the Marlins have worse numbers. Opponents have attempted 54 stolen bases against Diaz and 30 against Caratini. Diaz's average exchange and pop times have decreased from last season, while the average velocity on his throws is down from 84.3 mph last season to 83.6 mph during this one. Advertisement Still, Diaz managed to throw out eight base stealers. Caratini has only caught three. On average, runners are 54.1 feet away from second base when Diaz receives the baseball and 53.5 feet away against Caratini. League average is 56 feet, accentuating a fact that's hard to argue: Astros pitchers are giving their catchers little chance to throw anyone out. Introducing slide steps, holding the baseball longer before delivering it or varying times to home plate can help. Houston's pitching staff is incorporating all of it in hopes of turning around this troubling trend. What's the chance Jacob Melton is (given) the same opportunities they have (given) Cam Smith? — Shannon E. Production precipitates playing time, Shannon, so Melton is in control of his destiny. He is a left-handed hitter who represents what this club lacks — and what it could be in the market for during the trade deadline. Perhaps Melton will make that pursuit moot. As long as Alvarez remains on the injured list, a path to regular at-bats exists for Melton at any of the three outfield spots or as the team's designated hitter. The team must be mindful of Melton's recovery from a groin injury, though, which limited him to playing four days a week at Triple-A Sugar Land before his promotion. Melton has started six of his first seven games as a big leaguer. He has demonstrated dazzling defense and an ability to prolong at-bats, but is still 3-for-20 with eight strikeouts. While Alvarez, Chas McCormick and Zach Dezenzo are out, though, a runway exists for the major-league staff to see whether Melton can be a contributor. If he proves capable, it could open a new avenue for Brown to explore at the trade deadline — perhaps using McCormick, Dezenzo or starting center fielder Jake Meyers as chips in trade talks with Melton waiting in the wings to replace them. (Top photo of Victor Caratini and Yainer Diaz: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
