Softball Preview: Taft Wildcats vs. Wasco Tigers
The Taft Wildcats will head out on the road to square off against the Wasco Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Taft scored the most runs they've had all season to find success on Thursday. They put the hurt on Chavez with a sharp 19-2 win. Winning may never get old, but Taft sure is getting used to it with their third in a row.
RILYNNE STENDERUP spent all five innings played on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits.
On the hitting side, RYLEE OWENS was incredible, firing off two home runs, eight RBI, and three runs while going 3-for-4. CADENCE MIZENER was another key contributor, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, a stolen base, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Wasco put their dominant pitcher on display in the team's fourth consecutive shutout on Thursday. They never let Delano onto the board and left with a 20-0 victory. That looming 20-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Wasco yet this season.
Cedes Saldana made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and only two hits while striking out ten over five innings pitched. Saldana has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in 17 consecutive pitching appearances. Saldana was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
In other batting news, Abby Salazar was incredible, going 5-for-5 with a home run, six RBI, and two runs. Another player making a difference was Jazzy Juarez, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs, and three RBI.
Taft's record now sits at 17-2-1. As for Wasco, they pushed their record up to 15-4 with that win, which was their fifth straight on the road.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Taft has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .434. However, it's not like Wasco struggles in that department as they've averaged .445. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Taft couldn't quite finish off Wasco when the teams last played back in April of 2023 and fell 5-3. Can Taft avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
