Baseball Game Preview: West Vikings vs. Caruthers Blue Raiders

The West Vikings will take on the Caruthers Blue Raiders in a tournament on Monday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Having struggled with three losses in a row, West turned things around against Orange Cove on Saturday. They came out on top against the Titans by a score of 6-3.

Elliot Major

Batters Struck Out

04/12/25 vs Orange Cove	10
04/08/25 vs Foothill	3
04/01/25 vs South	4
03/27/25 vs North	5
03/25/25 vs East Bakersfield	2
+ 3 more games

Elliot Major made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits (and not a single walk). That's the most strikeouts he has posted since back in March. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-2.

In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cash Griffin, who scored a run and stole three bases while going 1-for-3. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in March.

Meanwhile, Caruthers posted their closest win since May 3, 2024 on Saturday. They skirted past Granite Hills 5-4. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Blue Raiders as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.

Jaden Gomez was excellent, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.

Caruthers hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Granite Hills struck out six times.

Caruthers' win bumped their record up to 6-11. As for West, their victory bumped their record up to 5-11.

The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. West has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Caruthers struggles in that department as they've been averaging 3.4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.