The Mesquite Wildcats will face off against the Salpointe Catholic Lancers at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Mesquite will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak.
Mesquite is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with an 8-7 win over Ironwood Ridge.
Cooper Leroy
| 05/05/25 @ Ironwood Ridge | 7 |
| 04/30/25 vs Estrella Foothills | 5 |
| 04/23/25 vs Cactus Shadows | 9 |
| 04/17/25 @ Arcadia | 6 |
Cooper Leroy made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over four innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with three RBI and one double.
In other batting news, Mesquite let Jensen Jones and Gunnar Gift run wild. Jones went 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI, while Gift got on base in two of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base. That's the most runs Gift has posted since back in April. The team also got some help courtesy of Noah Forney, who went 3-for-4 with one stolen base and one run.
Meanwhile, Salpointe Catholic got themselves on the board against Bradshaw Mountain on Monday, but Bradshaw Mountain never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over the Bears. Considering the Lancers have won 15 matches by more than five runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Salpointe Catholic also got a great performance from Sam Meisner as he didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Aciel Guillen, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Colton Raetzman, who went 1-for-3 with three RBI, one triple, and one run.
Salpointe Catholic kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive games.
Salpointe Catholic's victory was their 11th straight at home, which pushed their record up to 23-4-1. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.1 runs over those games. As for Mesquite, their record now sits at 22-8.
Wednesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mesquite has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .451. However, it's not like Salpointe Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .478. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Mesquite skirted past Salpointe Catholic 7-6 in their previous meeting back in February of 2023. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Wildcats since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
