Softball Game Preview: Valencia Tigers vs. Katella Knights

The Valencia Tigers will challenge the Katella Knights at 3:15 p.m. on Friday. Valencia will be strutting in after a victory while Katella will be coming in after a loss.

Valencia took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They walked away with a 5-2 win over Buena Park.

Katelynn Hildreth spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Lucy Ann Enomoto and Sophia Avina did most of the damage at the plate: Enomoto scored a run while going 2-for-3, while Avina went 1-for-4 with one home run. That home run marked the first that Avina launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Aliza Mindiola, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one double and one RBI.

They weren't the only ones working in the hit department: Valencia kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 6-1 when they post 11 or more hits.

Meanwhile, Katella lost 13-3 to Corona on Wednesday.

Krystal Barrios was cooking despite her team's loss, going 1-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.

Valencia's victory bumped their record up to 6-10. As for Katella, they now have a losing record of 6-7.

Katella's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Valencia has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.7 hits per game. It's a different story for Katella, though, as they've been averaging 8.7 hits. Given Valencia's sizable advantage in that area, the Knights will need to find a way to close that gap.

Valencia might still be hurting after the 10-3 defeat they got from Katella in their previous matchup back in March of 2023. Can the Tigers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.