Softball Game Preview: Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles vs. Yucca Valley Trojans

Desert Hot Springs is 0-10 against Yucca Valley since March of 2019 but things could change on Tuesday. The Desert Hot Springs Golden Eagles will head out on the road to challenge the Yucca Valley Trojans at 3:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.

Having struggled with ten defeats in a row dating back to last season, Desert Hot Springs turned things around against Perris on Thursday. They walked away with a 15-12 victory over the Panthers.

Meanwhile, Yucca Valley hadn't done well against Banning recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Monday. Yucca Valley blew past Banning 18-8. Considering the Trojans have won three matches by more than nine runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.

Bella Lopez made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she tossed three innings while giving up three earned runs off four hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of her four plate appearances.

In other batting news, Tayla Monroy was a standout: she scored three runs and stole Five bases. while going 2-for-4. Those five stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Hannah Cusack was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, four RBI, and one run.

The win made it two in a row for Yucca Valley and bumps their season record up to 4-5. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 4.0 runs on average over those games. As for Desert Hot Springs, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-2.

Desert Hot Springs suffered a grim 21-5 defeat to Yucca Valley in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can Desert Hot Springs avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.