The Gilbert Tigers will face off against the Higley Knights at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Gilbert is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
Gilbert was handed a heart-breaking two-run defeat in their last contest, but they sure didn't let that happen against South Mountain on Wednesday. The Tigers put the hurt on the Jaguars with a sharp 26-2 win. The Tigers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Brody Dial looked comfortable as he struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up just two earned runs off two hits.
Wilfredo Aviles IV
| 04/16/25 @ South Mountain | 3 |
| 04/14/25 @ Higley | 2 |
| 04/08/25 vs Queen Creek | 2 |
| 04/03/25 @ Williams Field | 2 |
| 03/24/25 @ Campo Verde | 2 |
At the plate, Gilbert got a massive performance out of Wilfredo Aviles IV, who went 3-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs. Those three hits gave Aviles IV a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Carter Watson, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Gilbert kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 16 hits. They are 2-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, it was close, but on Monday Higley sidestepped Gilbert for a 7-5 victory. That's two games straight that the Knights have won by exactly two runs.
Ryan Birch looked comfortable as he struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off four hits (and not a single walk).
On the hitting side, Higley's win was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Hayden Scatena, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Higley's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-9. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 6.8 runs over those games. As for Gilbert, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 9-14.
Gilbert couldn't quite finish off Higley in their previous matchup on Monday and fell 7-5. Will the Tigers 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 baseball content.
