Softball Game Preview: Madera Coyotes vs. Justin Garza Guardians

Madera has gone a perfect 4-0 against Justin Garza recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Tuesday. The Coyotes will square off against the Guardians at 3:30 p.m. Justin Garza took a loss in their last game and will be looking to turn the tables on Madera, who comes in off a win.

On Friday, Madera earned a 5-1 win over Sanger West. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Coyotes.

Jayleen Gutknecht looked comfortable as she tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up a single earned run in seven consecutive appearances.

Malea Ricks

Stolen Base

04/04/25 vs Sanger West	1
04/02/25 vs Mission Oak	1
03/25/25 vs Clovis North	1
03/22/25 vs Liberty	2

At the plate, Malea Ricks was excellent, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and one stolen base. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games she's played.

Meanwhile, Justin Garza fell victim to Edison and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They lost 10-0 to the Tigers. The loss continues a trend for the Guardians in their meetings with the Tigers: they've now lost five in a row.

Harmony Cook was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two doubles and one stolen base.

Madera's victory bumped their record up to 8-4. As for Justin Garza, they suffered their first road defeat, dropping their record down to 12-2.

Tuesday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Madera hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .343. However, it's not like Justin Garza struggles in that department as they've averaged .417. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.

Everything went Madera's way against Justin Garza when the teams last played back in May of 2024, as Madera made off with an 11-0 win. Do the Coyotes have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Guardians turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.