Tonopah Valley is 0-9 against Yuma Catholic since March of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. Tonopah Valley will be playing in front of their home fans against Yuma Catholic at 3:45 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.
While Tonopah Valley's win against Parker wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Tonopah Valley sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 13-12 victory over Parker on Tuesday. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Phoenix as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Morgan Green was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while going 3-for-5.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ellie Procunier, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Mackenzie Eaton was another key player, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Yuma Catholic). Their pitcher stepped up to hand Odyssey Institute an 18-0 shutout on Tuesday. The victory continues a trend for the Shamrocks in their matchups with the Minotaur: they've now won nine in a row.
Like Tonopah Valley, Yuma Catholic also got a great game from a two-way player: Cherish Trujillo. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Trujillo was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2024.
In other batting news, Kodi Leigh was incredible, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Neriah Sakay, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-2.
Yuma Catholic always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .759. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Yuma Catholic pushed their record up to 12-3 with the win, which was their third straight at home. The victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.3 runs on average over those games. As for Tonopah Valley, the win got them back to even at 3-3.
Thursday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Tonopah Valley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .602. However, it's not like Yuma Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .464. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Tonopah Valley suffered a grim 14-0 defeat to Yuma Catholic in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Will Tonopah Valley 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.
