The Ralston Valley Mustangs will take on the Monarch Coyotes at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Ralston Valley is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.5 runs per game this season.
Ralston Valley came out on top against Lakewood on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive 12-run fourth inning. The Mustangs were the clear victors by a 17-1 margin over the Tigers. The Mustangs haven't had any issues with the Tigers recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Jake Watts looked comfortable as he struck out eight batters over three innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
Degan Gregory
| 04/16/26 @ Lakewood | 4 |
| 04/04/26 @ Boulder | 3 |
| 04/10/25 @ Bear Creek | 3 |
| 03/25/26 vs Canby | 2 |
| 03/14/26 vs George Washington | 2 |
On the hitting side, Degan Gregory was incredible, firing off two home runs, three runs, and four RBI while going 3-for-3. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Nico Benallo was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three runs, two RBI, and one double.
Ralston Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are a perfect 8-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Monarch fell victim to Legacy and their airtight pitching crew on Wednesday. They lost 19-0 to the Lightning Bolt. The defeat continues a trend for the Coyotes in their meetings with the Lightning Bolt: they've now lost seven in a row.
Monarch's loss dropped their record down to 4-10. As for Ralston Valley, their win bumped their record up to 10-4.
Monarch's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Ralston Valley has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 11.1 hits per game. It's a different story for Monarch, though, as they've been averaging 10.1 hits. Given Ralston Valley's sizable advantage in that area, the Coyotes will need to find a way to close that gap.
Ralston Valley got the 'W' in their previous meeting back in April of 2025 against Monarch by a conclusive 15-8 score. Will the Mustangs repeat their success, or do the Coyotes have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
