The Tempe Prep Knights will venture away from home to square off against the Glendale Prep Academy Griffins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Last Thursday, Tempe Prep made easy work of Madison Highland Prep and carried off a 15-7 win. With that victory, the Knights brought their scoring average up to 6.1 runs per game.
Leilani Sawyer was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with one home run, four stolen bases, and three runs. Isabella Rose was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing four bases while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances.
Sawyer wasn't the only one making solid contact: Tempe Prep kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 19 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Glendale Prep Academy). They never let Mountainside get on the board and left with a 28-0 win on Wednesday. The result was nothing new for the Griffins, who have now won six games by six runs or more so far this season.
Raegan Rockey made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in seven consecutive appearances. She was even better at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, four runs, and four RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Ally Moore, who fired off three home runs, eight RBI, and four runs while going 3-for-4. Those three home runs gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Natalie Whipple, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI.
The victory (which was Glendale Prep Academy's third in a row) raised their record to 6-4. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 25.0 runs over those games. As for Tempe Prep, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-8.
Saturday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Tempe Prep has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .534. However, it's not like Glendale Prep Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .585. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Tempe Prep might still be hurting after the 23-0 loss they got from Glendale Prep Academy in their previous meeting on Saturday. Can the Knights avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
