The Hanford West Huskies will challenge the Dos Palos Broncos at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Hanford West took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Saturday. They never let Orosi get on the board and left with a 7-0 win. That looming 7-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Huskies yet this season.
Ben Ritchie and Sam Sandoval made a big impact no matter where they played. On the mound, Ritchie pitched 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. Meanwhile, Sandoval kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out nine over 4.2 innings pitched. At bat, Ritchie scored a run while going 3-for-4, while Sandoval scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Drake Tafolla was incredible, scoring a run while going 3-for-3. That run was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was King Mitre, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
Hanford West was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .467. That's the best batting average they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Dos Palos can bid farewell to their five-game losing streak thanks to their game on Friday. They came out on top against Hilmar by a score of 7-4.
Like Hanford West, Dos Palos also got a great game from a two-way player: Sixto Ibarra. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching six innings while giving up just two earned runs off seven hits. Ibarra has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jax Soares, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. Tevin Clay was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
Hanford West's record is now 6-4. As for Dos Palos, their record now sits at 4-6.
Hanford West might still be hurting after the 11-4 defeat they got from Dos Palos when the teams last played back in March of 2022. Can Hanford West avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
