Basic and Faith Lutheran are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2021, but likely not for long. The Wolves will challenge the Crusaders at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Basic will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Basic is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Wednesday. They won by a run and slipped past Centennial 8-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Wolves have posted against the Bulldogs since March 9, 2022.
Noah Sebastian
| 05/07/25 vs Centennial | 2 |
| 04/30/25 @ Green Valley | 1 |
| 04/21/25 vs Centennial | 2 |
| 04/04/25 vs Arbor View | 2 |
Noah Sebastian tossed a big game, tossing 5.1 innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Tate Southisene was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one home run and three RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Dallon Cegavske, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Basic was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .438. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Centennial only posted a batting average of .286.
Meanwhile, Faith Lutheran faced Palo Verde in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Wednesday. The Crusaders were the clear victors by a 10-3 margin over the Panthers. The Crusaders' offense finally found a way to get into gear: the high-octane performance was a 180-degree turn from their last three games.
Luke Stringer made a splash while hitting and pitching. He tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has become a key player for Faith Lutheran: the team is 7-1 when he allows at most one hit, but 12-13 otherwise. Stringer was also big at the plate, earning two runs and one stolen base. Those two runs gave him a new career-high.
In other pitching news, Faith Lutheran got a great performance from Cash Martin as he pitched five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits.
Back at the plate, Eli Leone was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Those two RBI gave him a new career-high. Nate Keyes was another key player, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run.
Basic's win was their ninth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 20-6. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.6 runs on average over those games. As for Faith Lutheran, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 19-14 record this season.
Basic couldn't quite finish off Faith Lutheran in their previous meeting two weeks ago and fell 7-5. Can the Wolves avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
