The Hillcrest Trojans will head out on the road to face off against the JW North Huskies at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday. JW North took a loss in their last match and will be looking to turn the tables on Hillcrest, who comes in off a win.
Hillcrest had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 18-run drubbing they dealt Vista del Lago on Tuesday. The Trojans' pitcher stepped up to hand the Ravens an 18-0 shutout. Considering the Trojans have won eight games by more than five runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Ashley James
| 04/29/25 vs Vista del Lago | 12 |
| 04/25/25 @ Tahquitz | 9 |
| 04/24/25 @ Arlington | 6 |
| 04/22/25 vs Heritage | 11 |
| 04/17/25 @ Canyon Springs | 10 |
| + 3 more games |
Hillcrest got a great performance from Ashley James as she kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. James has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in eight consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Melody Acevedo, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, four runs, and two stolen bases. That's the most stolen bases she has posted since back in March. Nayomi Pryor also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
Hillcrest always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .606. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Vista del Lago only posted an OBP of .143.
Meanwhile, after a string of four wins, JW North's good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They came up short against Arlington, falling 9-3. Huskies fans who chose to attend the game sure picked the wrong one: it was the first time the team's lost against the Lions since on Tuesday.
Audrina Camacho was cooking despite her team's loss, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double. Angelina Martinez was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Hillcrest has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 15-11 record this season. The victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.5 runs over those games. As for JW North, their loss dropped their record down to 15-10.
Thursday's match will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Hillcrest hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .365. However, it's not like JW North struggles in that department as they've averaged .386. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
