Baseball Preview: Apache Junction Prospectors vs. Vista Grande Spartans
Apache Junction is 0-6 against Vista Grande since April of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Apache Junction Prospectors will head out on the road to square off against the Vista Grande Spartans at 3:45 p.m.
On Wednesday, Apache Junction didn't have quite enough to beat American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North and fell 3-2. Apache Junction has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Apache Junction saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ace Ruiz, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Vista Grande came tearing into Tuesday's match with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12.7 runs) and they left with even more momentum. They were the clear victor by a 21-1 margin over the Dons. That's two games straight that Vista Grande has won by exactly 20 runs.
Aiden Montiel looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and only two hits over four innings pitched.
On the hitting side, Ruben Baca was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-3. Sebastian Hidrogo Delcid was another key contributor, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Apache Junction's defeat dropped their record down to 5-12. As for Vista Grande, their win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-9.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both teams have some strikeout artists on the roster. Apache Junction has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Vista Grande struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.3. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Apache Junction couldn't quite finish off Vista Grande in their previous matchup back in April of 2023 and fell 7-5. Thankfully for Apache Junction, Trent Chavez (who struck out 11 batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off three hits (and only one walk)) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
