Softball Game Preview: Grants Pirates vs. Thoreau Hawks

Grants is a perfect 7-0 against Thoreau since March of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Tuesday. The Pirates will host the Hawks at 3:00 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Grants has three straight victories, Thoreau has three straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the field.

Grants barely beat Laguna Acoma the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Pirates blew past the Hawks 14-5 on Monday.

Olivia Toivanen was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over seven innings while giving up three earned (and two unearned) runs off eight hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in May of 2024. She was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one RBI.

Raeyna Valdez

Home Runs (Career)

04/14/25 @ Laguna Acoma	2
04/14/25 @ Laguna Acoma	1
04/10/25 vs Belen	1
03/13/25 @ Bernalillo	1

In other batting news, Raeyna Valdez was incredible, firing off two home runs, three runs, and three RBI while going 2-for-4. Those two home runs gave her a new career-high. Delilah Martinez was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 3-for-5.

Grants kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 21 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in six consecutive matchups.

Meanwhile, Thoreau fell victim to Espanola Valley and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They came up short against the Sundevils, falling 19-0.

Grants pushed their record up to 8-8 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.3 runs over those games. As for Thoreau, their loss dropped their record down to 3-8.

Grants took their win against Thoreau in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 18-3 score. Do the Pirates have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Hawks turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.