Williams is 1-9 against Bagdad since April of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Vikings will square off against the Sultans at 5:00 p.m. Williams is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.3 runs per game this season.
Williams came out on top against Scottsdale Preparatory Academy on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive nine-run third inning. The Vikings' pitcher stepped up to hand the Spartans a 12-0 shutout. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Vikings.
Mario Pedraza
| 04/17/26 @ Scottsdale Preparatory Academy | 12 |
| 03/11/26 vs Kingman Academy | 5 |
| 03/05/26 vs Superior | 6 |
| 02/28/26 @ River Valley | 7 |
| 05/10/25 @ Bagdad | 1 |
| + 5 more games |
Williams got a great performance from Mario Pedraza as he kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 12 over five innings pitched. That's the most strikeouts Pedraza has posted since back in April of 2025.
On the hitting side, Jaxon Steng was a standout: he went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. Aiden Uebel was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Bagdad won against Desert Heights Prep on Thursday with 11 runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Friday. The Sultans came out on top against Joseph City by a score of 11-8. The victory continues a trend for the Sultans in their matchups with the Wildcats: they've now won six in a row.
The team relied heavily on Rowdy Hooper, who went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBI. Another player making a difference was Gauge Drybread, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two stolen bases and three runs.
Williams' record now sits at 15-7-1. As for Bagdad, their record is now 11-8.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Williams has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .480. However, it's not like Bagdad struggles in that department as they've averaged .478. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Williams couldn't quite get it done against Bagdad in their previous matchup back in May of 2025 as they fell 6-3. Can the Vikings avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
