The South Mountain Jaguars will face off against the Valley Vista Monsoon at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The two teams are strolling into their matches after big wins in their previous games.
South Mountain barely beat Sierra Linda the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. South Mountain put the hurt on Sierra Linda with a sharp 10-3 victory on Friday. The Jaguars might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five games by seven runs or more this season.
Alexia Ramirez was a major factor no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out 13 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned runs off six hits. Those 13 strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and three doubles.
Bethsi Arellano-Melendez
| 03/21/25 vs Sierra Linda | 3 |
| 02/27/25 vs Central | 2 |
| 02/22/24 vs Valley Vista | 2 |
| 03/20/25 vs Desert Sunrise | 1 |
| 03/06/25 @ Glendale | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Bethsi Arellano-Melendez, who scored two runs and stole three bases while going 2-for-4. Those three stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Alonnah Nodora, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Valley Vista). They were the clear victors by an 18-1 margin over Camelback on Thursday. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Monsoon as it put an end to their six-game losing streak.
Like South Mountain, Valley Vista also got a great game from a two-way player: Savanna Gumowski. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. Gumowski was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all three of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Adria Garcia was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, six RBI, and two stolen bases. Zayda Atalima was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4.
Valley Vista hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They are 3-1 when they post two or more strikeouts.
The victory made it two in a row for South Mountain and bumps their season record up to 6-4. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.5 runs over those games. As for Valley Vista, their victory bumped their record up to 3-8.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. South Mountain has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .479. However, it's not like Valley Vista struggles in that department as they've averaged .558. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
South Mountain suffered a grim 14-5 defeat to Valley Vista in their previous matchup back in February of 2024. Will South Mountain have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
