West Mesa is 2-8 against Eldorado since June of 2021 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Saturday. West Mesa will challenge Eldorado at 10:00 a.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
West Mesa took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Tuesday. They put the hurt on Highland with a sharp 15-5 victory. The Mustangs haven't had any issues with the Hornets recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Armoni Baca
| 03/04/25 vs Del Norte | 4 |
| 03/25/25 vs Highland | 3 |
| 03/08/25 @ Socorro | 2 |
| 03/01/25 @ Manzano | 2 |
| 02/22/25 @ Highland | 2 |
| + 5 more games |
Armoni Baca made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Those zero hits allowed gave him a new career-low. He was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. He is becoming a predictor of West Mesa's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 4-1 (and 2-7 when he doesn't).
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Daniel Rodriguez, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in March of 2024. Ayden Gonzales was another key player, scoring two runs while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Eldorado). They were the clear victors by a 17-6 margin over Atrisco Heritage Academy on Thursday. The result was nothing new for the Golden Eagles, who have now won six matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Ethan Marquez was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with seven RBI, three runs, and two doubles. Timothy Kamphuis also deserves some recognition as he launched his first home run of the season.
Eldorado kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 20 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
West Mesa's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-8. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.7 runs over those games. As for Eldorado, their record now sits at 9-5.
Saturday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. West Mesa has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .440. However, it's not like Eldorado struggles in that department as they've averaged .437. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
West Mesa suffered a grim 15-0 defeat to Eldorado when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can West Mesa avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
