Parkland is on a four-game streak of home wins, while Del Valle is on a four-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Matadors will welcome the Conquistadores at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Wednesday, Parkland got the win against Hanks by a conclusive 11-4. The Matadors haven't had any issues with the Knights recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Samantha Martinez
| 04/09/25 @ Hanks | 15 |
| 04/02/25 vs Bel Air | 10 |
| 03/29/25 @ Americas | 7 |
| 03/28/25 vs El Dorado | 5 |
| 03/25/25 @ Del Valle | 7 |
| + 6 more games |
Samantha Martinez was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She struck out 15 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 11 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Stephanie Flores, who went 2-for-5 with one home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Emily Sanchez, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Parkland hit smart and finished the game with only two strikeouts. They are 11-2 when they post two or more strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Del Valle made easy work of Horizon on Wednesday and carried off a 20-3 victory.
Like Parkland, Del Valle also got a great game from a two-way player: Andrea Salcedo. On the mound, she struck out nine batters over three innings while giving up three earned runs off only one hit. That's the most strikeouts Salcedo has posted since back in March. She was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, four runs, and five RBI.
In other batting news, Del Valle let Julianna Santos and Yallena Morgan run wild. Santos went 2-for-3 with four RBI, two runs, and one double, while Morgan went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most RBI Santos has posted since back in February. Clarissa Cepeda was another key player, scoring four runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Del Valle has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten matchups. That's provided a massive bump to their 19-10-2 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.1 runs over those games. As for Parkland, their victory bumped their record up to 17-12.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Parkland has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .490. However, it's not like Del Valle struggles in that department as they've averaged .529. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Parkland couldn't quite finish off Del Valle in their previous matchup back in March and fell 2-0. Will the Matadors have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
