El Cerrito hasn't had much luck against Pinole Valley recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Gauchos will face off against the Spartans at 4:30 p.m. El Cerrito is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 15.2 runs per game this season.
Arroyo hit El Cerrito with a four-run fifth inning on Monday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Gauchos lost 8-2 to the Dons. For those keeping track at home, that's the biggest defeat the Gauchos have suffered since May 3, 2024.
Arlie Tatum
| 04/21/25 vs Arroyo | 1 |
| 04/17/25 @ Hercules | 3 |
| 04/01/25 vs St. Patrick-St. Vincent | 2 |
| 03/25/25 vs Kennedy | 1 |
| 03/24/25 @ Oakland Tech | 1 |
| + 6 more games |
Arlie Tatum was cooking despite her team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, one stolen base, and two RBI. She is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as she's now snagged at least one in each of the last 11 games she's played.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Pinole Valley and Saint Mary's, and Pinole Valley kept the tradition alive. The Spartans put the hurt on the Panthers with a sharp 12-1 win on Wednesday. The victory continues a trend for the Spartans in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won nine in a row.
Mckenzie Ortega made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over five innings while giving up just one earned run off three hits (and only one walk). Ortega was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, and one double.
In other batting news, Ayla Serrano was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBI, and one triple. Another player making a difference was Avery Phillips, who went 2-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Pinole Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .593. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Saint Mary's only posted an OBP of .211.
Pinole Valley's record is now 9-6. As for El Cerrito, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 13-1.
Both the two teams just can't seem to miss. El Cerrito has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.8 hits per game. However, it's not like Pinole Valley struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 5.5 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
El Cerrito might still be hurting after the 7-1 defeat they got from Pinole Valley in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Can the Gauchos avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
