American Fork hasn't had much luck against Pleasant Grove recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Cavemen will challenge the Vikings at 3:30 p.m.
American Fork is headed into Tuesday's match looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their seventh straight game on Friday. They came up short against Hunter, falling 10-2.
Meanwhile, Pleasant Grove faced Westlake in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Vikings won by a run and slipped past the Thunder 4-3. The win continues a trend for the Vikings in their matchups with the Thunder: they've now won six in a row.
Keslie Draney spent all eight innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned runs on six hits and racked up six Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Maile Larsen, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and one double. That's the most hits she has posted since back in May of 2024. Aniston Norton was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs.
Pleasant Grove hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Westlake struck out six times.
Pleasant Grove pushed their record up to 19-6 with the victory, which was their fourth straight on the road. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for American Fork, their loss dropped their record down to 8-16.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. American Fork hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .328. However, it's not like Pleasant Grove struggles in that department as they've averaged .439. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
American Fork might still be hurting after the 15-3 defeat they got from Pleasant Grove in their previous matchup two weeks ago. Can the Cavemen avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
