Williams hasn't had much luck against Bagdad recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Vikings will be playing at home against the Sultans at 2:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Williams took a loss when they played away from home on Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. Everything went their way against Ash Fork/Seligman as they made off with a 20-1 victory. The Vikings haven't had any issues with the Spartans recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Jaxon Steng was a major factor no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits (and only one walk). Steng was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one double.
Jace Maebe
| 04/17/25 vs Ash Fork/Seligman | 4 |
| 03/28/25 @ Northland Prep Academy | 2 |
| 03/22/25 vs Fredonia | 2 |
| 03/12/25 @ Kingman Academy | 2 |
| 02/27/25 vs Kingman Academy | 2 |
In other batting news, Jace Maebe was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBI, and one stolen base. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Mario Pedraza, who went 2-for-3 with four runs, two stolen bases, and one double.
Williams always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .727. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Ash Fork/Seligman only posted an OBP of .389.
Meanwhile, Bagdad had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.5 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Friday. They put the hurt on the Wildcats with a sharp 7-1 victory.
Zayden Sanders looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than two hits in six consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Bagdad got a massive performance out of Aaron Landers, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with three stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Rowdy Hooper was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one home run and two RBI.
Bagdad pushed their record up to 18-4 with the win, which was their eighth straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.6 runs on average over those games. As for Williams, their win bumped their record up to 12-7-1.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Williams has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .510. However, it's not like Bagdad struggles in that department as they've averaged .505. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Williams suffered a grim 8-0 defeat to Bagdad in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Will the Vikings have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
