vs
| 04/03/25 - Home | 9-6 W |
| 04/17/24 - Home | 8-3 W |
| 03/29/24 - Away | 10-4 W |
| 04/20/23 - Away | 3-0 W |
| 04/04/23 - Home | 11-0 W |
| + 5 more games |
Apple Valley is 9-1 against Serrano since April of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Tuesday. The Sun Devils will head out to take on the Diamondbacks at 3:15 p.m. Apple Valley has given up an average of 6.7 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Oak Hills hit Apple Valley with a four-run seventh inning on Thursday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Sun Devils came up short against the Bulldogs, falling 13-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest loss the Sun Devils have suffered against the Bulldogs since March 30, 2022.
Apple Valley saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Makaylee Cerf, who went 3-for-4 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Samantha Dollar was another, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base and one run.
Serrano came out on top against Hesperia on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive 14-run fifth inning. The Diamondbacks were the clear victors by an 18-2 margin over the Scorpions. The Diamondbacks haven't had any issues with the Scorpions recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Sam Conan made a big impact no matter where she played. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out nine over five innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in February.
In other batting news, Wendy Arauz was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs. Those three runs gave her a new career-high. Aubrey Malone also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen bases of the season.
Serrano was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .500. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive contests.
This is the second loss in a row for Apple Valley and nudges their season record down to 10-6-1. As for Serrano, the win got them back to even at 10-10.
Tuesday's match might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Apple Valley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .446. However, it's not like Serrano struggles in that department as they've averaged .519. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Apple Valley was able to grind out a solid victory over Serrano in their previous matchup on April 3rd, winning 9-6. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Sun Devils since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
