Softball Game Preview: Pima Roughriders vs. ALA - Mesa North Mavericks

The Pima Roughriders will venture away from home to challenge the ALA - Mesa North Mavericks at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Pima knows how to get runs on the board -- the team has finished with ten runs or more in their past three matchups -- so hopefully ALA - Mesa North likes a good challenge.

While Pima didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They put the hurt on Salome with a sharp 19-9 win on Friday. Considering the Roughriders have won four games by more than nine runs this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.

Liliana Apodaca made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she tossed five innings while giving up just two earned (and seven unearned) runs off eight hits. What's more, she posted five strikeouts, the most she's had over her last nine contests. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs and three RBI.

Paige DeRusha

Runs (Career)

03/20/26 vs Salome	3
03/20/26 vs Pinon	2
03/19/26 vs Highland Prep West	2
03/07/26 vs Hayden	2
03/04/26 @ Palo Verde	2

In other batting news, Paige DeRusha was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. Those three runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Jazmine Taylor, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and one double.

Pima always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .641. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of .641 or higher in three consecutive matchups.

ALA - Mesa North couldn't beat Fountain Hills on Monday even though they stacked 17 runs on them in the second inning. The Mavericks came up short against the Falcons, falling 31-19. Even if the Mavericks couldn't come away with the victory, the high-scoring effort was a great turnaround for their hitters, which had struggled int the games prior.

ALA - Mesa North's defeat dropped their record down to 0-3. As for Pima, their record is now 8-4.