Antelope hasn't had much luck against Desert Heights Prep recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Rams will challenge the Yote at 1:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Antelope took a nine-run loss the last time they faced off against Salome, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Rams won by a run and slipped past the Frogs 8-7. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Rams.
The team relied heavily on Sebastian Marquez, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double. Mariano Valencia was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Desert Heights Prep came out on top against Valley Lutheran on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive 17-run sixth inning. The Yote blew past the Flames 22-1. That looming 22-1 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Yote yet this season.
Tanner Preston and Kaleb Smith made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Preston pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Meanwhile, Smith struck out eight batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. At the plate, Preston got on base in three of his five plate appearances with two runs and two RBI, while Smith went 4-for-5 with three runs, four RBI, and one stolen base. That stolen base marked the first that Smith has snagged this season.
In other batting news, Brady Mondlak was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, five RBI, and three runs. He also put up a triple, which was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was James Thomason, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with four runs, one triple, and one stolen base.
Desert Heights Prep kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That's the most hits they've posted since back in February of 2025.
The win was their first at home, bumping their record up to 2-3. As for Desert Heights Prep, their record is now 4-0.
Antelope couldn't quite get it done against Desert Heights Prep in their previous meeting back in March of 2025 as they fell 4-1. Can the Rams avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
