Baseball Game Preview: ThunderRidge Grizzlies vs. Ponderosa Mustangs

The ThunderRidge Grizzlies will take on the Ponderosa Mustangs at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

ThunderRidge came into their game on Monday off a hard-fought close win, but unfortunately suffered a serious change of fortune. They lost 11-0 to Castle View. The contest marked the first time this year in which the Grizzlies were not able to get on the board.

Meanwhile, Ponderosa had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 4 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Monday. They were the clear victors by an 11-1 margin over the Wolves. That looming 11-1 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Mustangs yet this season.

The team relied heavily on Ethan Alejo, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in doubles (two). Hayden Silva was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-1.

Ponderosa was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .450. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .364 or higher in three consecutive matches.

Ponderosa pushed their record up to 8-4 with the victory, which was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.2 runs over those games. As for ThunderRidge, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 5-6 record this season.

ThunderRidge suffered a grim 10-2 defeat to Ponderosa when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Grizzlies avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.