The Mission Heights Prep Phantoms will square off against the East Valley Athletes for Christ Eagles at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Mission Heights Prep is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 11 runs per game this season.
Mission Heights Prep barely beat Imagine Prep the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Phantoms were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over the Storm on Friday. The Phantoms have beaten the Storm the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Storm has come to flipping the script.
Kamden Muffler
| 04/11/25 vs Imagine Prep | 10 |
| 03/31/25 @ Imagine Prep Coolidge | 7 |
| 04/18/24 vs Varsity Opponent | 2 |
| 03/05/24 vs Imagine Prep Coolidge | 1 |
Kamden Muffler was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out ten batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits (and only one walk). Those ten strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
In other batting news, Mission Heights Prep got a massive performance out of Cameron Mata, who scored two runs and stole three bases while going 3-for-4. Mata is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged three or more in each of the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Jacob Kemp, who went 3-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Mission Heights Prep was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .577. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Meanwhile, after a string of four wins, East Valley Athletes for Christ's good fortune finally ran out on Monday. They fell just short of Heritage Academy Gateway by a score of 7-5.
Like Mission Heights Prep, East Valley Athletes for Christ also got a great game from a two-way player: Antonio Barranca. He struck out seven batters over five innings while giving up three earned (and four unearned) runs off eight hits (and only one walk). Barranca was even better at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing three bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Louis Livacari was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring a run and stealing four bases.
Mission Heights Prep's win bumped their record up to 7-3-1. As for East Valley Athletes for Christ, their loss dropped their record down to 7-2.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Mission Heights Prep has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .561. However, it's not like East Valley Athletes for Christ struggles in that department as they've averaged .483. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Mission Heights Prep's way against East Valley Athletes for Christ in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, as Mission Heights Prep made off with a 6-0 victory. Will the Phantoms repeat their success, or do the Eagles have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
