The Vista Ridge Wolves will square off against the Pueblo West Cyclones at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Vista Ridge came out on top against Rampart on Wednesday thanks in part to the team's impressive eight-run sixth inning. The Wolves put the hurt on the Rams with a sharp 14-5 victory. The Wolves haven't had any issues with the Rams recently, as the game was their ninth consecutive win against them.
Vista Ridge let Jocelynn Kalkman and Jaylani Jusino run wild. Kalkman went 2-for-5 with one home run, four runs, and four RBI, while Jusino went 3-for-5 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most RBI Kalkman has posted since back in August. Another player making a difference was Aaliyah Garcia, who went 3-for-5 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Vista Ridge kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in nine consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Pueblo West never let their opponents score on Thursday. They were the clear victors by a 15-0 margin over Rampart.
Kassidy Donley made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, tossing three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 1-for-1 with one run and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Abbi Bay, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with three stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Peyton Kuhn was another key player, going a perfect 1-for-1 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI.
Vista Ridge's victory bumped their record up to 13-4. As for Pueblo West, their win bumped their record up to 13-6.
Saturday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Vista Ridge hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .346. However, it's not like Pueblo West struggles in that department as they've averaged .408. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Vista Ridge might still be hurting after the 16-7 defeat they got from Pueblo West when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Can the Wolves avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
