The Pueblo Central Wildcats will square off against the Eaglecrest Raptors at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Pueblo Central's pitching crew has only allowed 2.8 runs per game this season, so Eaglecrest's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Pueblo Central is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Colorado's top teams: Pueblo County, who was ranked ninth in their home state at the time (Pueblo Central was ranked sixth). Pueblo Central took a 4-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of Pueblo County on Thursday. It was the first time this season that the Wildcats let down their fans at home.
Charley Autobee spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and one unearned) runs on eight hits and racked up six Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, Pueblo Central saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Sophia Perez, who went 1-for-2 with a double.
Meanwhile, Eaglecrest got the win against Lakewood on Thursday by a conclusive 8-2. The eight-run effort marked the Raptors' lowest-scoring match of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Eaglecrest got a big performance out of Zaya Elliott, who scored two runs while going 2-for-4. Sydney Smith also deserves some recognition as she hit her first hit of the season.
Eaglecrest kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now hit at least 11 hits in seven consecutive games.
The defeat snapped Pueblo Central's winning streak at nine games dating back to last season and leaves them with a 8-1 record. As for Eaglecrest, their record is now 6-1.
Friday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pueblo Central has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of 0. However, it's not like Eaglecrest struggles in that department as they've averaged 0. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pueblo Central came up short against Eaglecrest in their previous matchup back in September of 2023, falling 6-1. Can Pueblo Central avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
