Ysleta hasn't had much luck against Hanks recently, but that could start to change on Saturday. The Ysleta Indians will take on the Hanks Knights in a tournament on Saturday. Ysleta is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.9 runs per game this season.
While Ysleta's win against Fabens wasn't quite the blowout they won the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Ysleta sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 7-6 victory over Fabens on Friday. The win was some much needed relief for the Indians as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Jazmyn Pollard was excellent, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-2. She also put up a stolen base, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Cienna Hernandez, who went 1-for-2 with one triple and one run.
Meanwhile, Hanks got the win against Van Horn on Friday by a conclusive 17-2. Considering the Knights have won nine contests by more than six runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Kareli Borunda made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over three innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off two hits (and only one walk). That's the fewest earned runs she has allowed over her last six matches. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 1-for-2.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Dreana Ballesteros, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and four RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted over her last 12 games. Sara Cordova was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while getting on base in two of her three plate appearances.
Hanks was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .412. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
The victory made it two in a row for Hanks and bumps their season record up to 10-4-1. A key ingredient in that success has been their performance when it comes to strikeouts: they averaged an imposing 7.5 strikeouts in those games compared to only 3.23 in the others. As for Ysleta, their win bumped their record up to 5-7-1.
Saturday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Ysleta has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .470. However, it's not like Hanks struggles in that department as they've averaged .518. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Ysleta's way against Hanks when the teams last played back in April of 2024, as Ysleta made off with a 13-2 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Ysleta since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
