Softball Preview: Denver North Vikings vs. Thomas Jefferson Spartans
Denver North hasn't had much luck against Thomas Jefferson recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Denver North Vikings will square off against the Thomas Jefferson Spartans at 4:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Denver North is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. Everything went their way against Rangeview on Tuesday as Denver North made off with a 13-1 victory. The win was some much needed relief for the Vikings as it spelled an end to their five-game losing streak.
Veronica Loera-Tafoya was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she tossed three innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. Loera-Tafoya was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing four bases.
In other batting news, Sophia Guerrero and Elina Gutierrez did most of the damage at the plate: Guerrero scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-2, while Gutierrez scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances. Guerrero also launched a home run, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Gabriela Diaz, who scored a run and stole three bases.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Denver North hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts in four consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, the third road contest was the charm for Thomas Jefferson, as they earned their first road win of the season. They beat Northfield on Tuesday by the very same score they won with in their prior game: 15-0. With that victory, the Spartans brought their scoring average up to 7.2 runs per game.
Like Denver North, Thomas Jefferson also got a great game from a two-way player: Eva Miller-Sanchez. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and not a single walk). Miller-Sanchez has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing three bases while going 2-for-2.
In other batting news, Sofia Sandoval was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Layla Colonna, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4.
Denver North's record is now 2-5. As for Thomas Jefferson, their record is now 2-3.
Thursday's matchup will be a test for both team's pitchers. Denver North hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of 0. However, it's not like Thomas Jefferson struggles in that department as they've averaged 0. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Denver North suffered a grim 13-3 defeat to Thomas Jefferson in their previous matchup back in September of 2023. Can Denver North avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
