Coconino is preparing for their first region matchup of the season on Tuesday. They will head out to challenge the Lee Williams Volunteers at 3:45 p.m. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Coconino was handed a six-run defeat in their previous outing, but that didn't affect their clutch gene on Friday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Empire, sneaking past 9-8. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Panthers have posted since April 9, 2024.
Jake Hanley was excellent, scoring two runs while going 2-for-3. He also put up a double, which was his first of the season. Ezra Merrell was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI.
Meanwhile, the third road game was the charm for Lee Williams, as they earned their first road win of the season. They had just enough and edged out Dysart 7-5. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Volunteers as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Payton Loucks looked comfortable as he pitched three innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. He also tossed a walk, which is notable because Lee Williams is 2-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 1-3 otherwise.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Dylan Norbert, who scored a run and stole Three bases. while going 1-for-4. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in March of 2024. Another player making a difference was Izaiah Orozco, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-4.
Lee Williams picked up their first road win, bumping their record up to 3-4. As for Coconino, the victory snapped their losing streak at four games and leaves them with a 3-6-1 record.
Coconino was able to grind out a solid win over Lee Williams when the teams last played back in April of 2024, winning 11-6. The rematch might be a little tougher for Coconino since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
