Yerba Buena is 0-10 against Independence since March of 2018 but things could change on Monday. The Aztec Warriors will venture away from home to challenge the 76ers at 4:00 p.m. Yerba Buena has given up an average of 20 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Yerba Buena is headed into Monday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fifth straight game on Friday. They came up short against Evergreen Valley, falling 15-0. The match marked the first time this season in which the Aztec Warriors were not able to get on the board.
Meanwhile, Independence came tearing into Friday's contest with five straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They put the hurt on the Falcons with a sharp 17-1 victory. While the 76ers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Julieta Ramirez made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Independence got a massive performance out of Skylar Crowell, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, four RBI, and one triple. Those four RBI gave Crowell a new career-high. Ava Sanchez was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, two doubles, and one run.
Independence always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .742. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Independence's win was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 6-3. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 19.0 runs over those games. As for Yerba Buena, their defeat dropped their record down to 0-5.
Yerba Buena might still be hurting after the 20-5 loss they got from Independence in their previous meeting back in March. Can the Aztec Warriors avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
