The Madison Highland Prep Heat are taking a road trip to face off against the Phoenix Christian Cougars at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Madison Highland Prep has given up an average of 9.2 runs per game this season, but Tuesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Madison Highland Prep fell victim to Scottsdale Christian Academy and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They lost 14-0 to the Eagles. The Heat have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Madison Highland Prep saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Anthony Kritikos, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one stolen base.
Meanwhile, after only two runs in their last contest, Phoenix Christian made sure to put some runs up on the board against Camp Verde on Friday. The Cougars were the clear victors by an 11-3 margin over the Cowboys. Considering the Cougars have won 14 matches by more than five runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Oliver Sierra made a big impact no matter where he played. He struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits (and only one walk). He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those two doubles gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, Nate Burton was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and one RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Ryne Viscum, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one triple.
Phoenix Christian kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Camp Verde only managed seven hits.
Phoenix Christian's record is now 20-3. As for Madison Highland Prep, their loss dropped their record down to 4-10.
Tuesday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Madison Highland Prep hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .343. However, it's not like Phoenix Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .369. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Madison Highland Prep suffered a grim 19-0 defeat to Phoenix Christian in their previous matchup back in March. Can the Heat avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
