The Triumph Charter Jaguars will square off against Valor Academy at 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Triumph Charter is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.7 runs per game this season.
Sun Valley Magnet hit Triumph Charter with a four-run second inning on Friday, which goes a long way in explaining the final result. The Jaguars came up short against the Pioneers, falling 9-3. The loss continues a trend for the Jaguars in their meetings with the Pioneers: they've now lost five in a row.
Simon Trujillo
| 04/25/25 vs Sun Valley Magnet | 1 |
| 04/15/25 vs Discovery | 2 |
| 04/14/25 @ University Prep Value | 1 |
Triumph Charter saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Simon Trujillo, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one RBI. Trujillo is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played.
Meanwhile, Valor Academy waltzed into their game on Friday with four straight wins... but they left with five. Everything went their way against the Knights as they made off with a 20-6 win. Valor Academy's hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Daniel Silva made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and not a single walk). He is becoming a predictor of Valor Academy's success: when he allows at most three earned runs the team is 4-2 (and 1-2 when he doesn't). Silva was also stellar in the batter's box, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Johnny Hughes, who got on base in all five of his plate appearances with six stolen bases, five runs, and one RBI. Valor Academy is 5-1 when Hughes posts two or more stolen bases, but 0-3 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Samuel Herrejon, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases, three runs, and one double.
Valor Academy always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .800. They are 4-2 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Valor Academy's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 5-4. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.0 runs over those games. As for Triumph Charter, their defeat dropped their record down to 9-9.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Triumph Charter has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .485. However, it's not like Valor Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .595. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Triumph Charter took their victory against Valor Academy in their previous meeting back in March by a conclusive 12-1 score. Do the Jaguars have another victory up their sleeve, or will Valor Academy turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
