Who: El Camino Colts (4-1-1) vs. Carlmont Scots (4-1)
Where: Carlmont High School, Belmont
When: Wednesday, March 16, 3:15 p.m.

Why to Watch
Peninsula League play kicks off the week, and six of the league’s eight teams are playing above .500 baseball in the preseason. That will undoubtedly change in the coming weeks, after the teams at the top have a chance to beat up on each other.

El Camino and Carlmont will each be looking to separate from the pack early, and a home-and-home series beginning on Wednesday will give each team a chance to do just that.

The Colts are the better hitting ballclub and are led by senior Steven Knudson, who is hitting .615 to start the season. The 6-foot slugger has hit safely in every game this season and leads El Camino with seven runs batted in.

Fellow senior Tyler Rios and sophomore shortstop Steven Pastora are also capable run producers, with each having batted in six runs. Junior outfielder David Jimenez is the team’s catalyst from the top of the order and has scored nine runs in the Colts’ six games.

El Camino’s pitching staff is far less settled. Two of the team’s top three pitchers, Knudson and junior lefty Andres Ramirez, have had control problems to start the season and have walked more batters than they have struck out. Knudson, in particular, has gotten off to a slow start and sports and ERA over seven.

Rios has filled in admirably out of the bullpen, posting a 1.11 ERA in 6.1 innings of work, striking out eight and walking three. He may deserve a shot at starting if the team’s other pitchers continue to struggle.

El Camino’s pitchers may get a chance to find themselves this week, as Carlmont is hitting a paltry .262 as a team. Senior Willie Baroncini is the team’s best overall offensive threat and is hitting .455 with seven stolen bases.

The Scots’ pitching staff looks to already be in midseason form. Top starters Nic Bongi and Daniel Madigan have combined to start four games, with the pair giving up just a single earned run in their 18.1 innings of work.

Senior reliever Bradley Levine has done a great job closing out games and hasn’t given up a run in his 8.2 innings of bullpen work.

Great pitching usually tops great hitting, and if that’s the case, expect the Scots to win on Wednesday and complete the sweep on Friday.

Carlmont 4, El Camino 1