Softball Preview: Venture Academy Mustangs vs. Big Valley Christian Lions
Venture Academy is 0-10 against Big Valley Christian since April of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Thursday. The Venture Academy Mustangs will head out on the road to challenge the Big Valley Christian Lions at 4:00 p.m. Venture Academy is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 8.4 runs per game this season.
Venture Academy was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They wound up on the wrong side of a tough 16-2 walloping at the hands of Millennium. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest runs Venture Academy has scored all season.
Esperanza Alvarez was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-3 with a stolen base, a double, and an RBI. Arianna Molina was another key contributor, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Big Valley Christian scored the most runs they've had all season to find success on Tuesday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Elliot Christian a 19-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for Big Valley Christian, who have now won five matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Morgan Merzon was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and a triple. The team also got some help courtesy of Cecily Fontana, who scored a run and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Venture Academy's loss dropped their record down to 4-3. As for Big Valley Christian, they pushed their record up to 8-5-1 with that victory, which was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both teams have some strikeout artists on the roster. Venture Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Big Valley Christian struggles in that department as they've been averaging 10.1. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Venture Academy suffered a grim 10-0 defeat to Big Valley Christian in their previous matchup back in May of 2023. Can Venture Academy avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps