The Red Bluff Spartans will challenge the Foothill Cougars at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Red Bluff is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.5 runs per game this season.
Red Bluff took a loss when they played away from home last Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed last Wednesday. They never let University Prep get on the board and left with a 10-0 win. The Spartans might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by six runs or more this season.
Lucas Owens and Ryan Ross did most of the damage at the plate: Owens went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run, while Ross went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. That's the most RBI Owens has posted since back in April of 2024. Mason Lyford was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one stolen base.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Red Bluff kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 16 consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only Foothill walked away with it. They had just enough and edged out the Thunderbirds 3-1. The victory continues a trend for the Cougars in their matchups with the Thunderbirds: they've now won four in a row.
Blake Schwerdt made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits while striking out eight over 6.1 innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Foothill is 4-2 when he allows at most one earned run, but 7-12 otherwise. Schwerdt was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Schwerdt wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Tyce Tenney, who went 1-for-2 with one stolen base and one run.
Red Bluff has been performing well recently as they've won 12 of their last 15 games. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-11 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.9 runs over those games. As for Foothill, their victory bumped their record up to 11-14.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Red Bluff has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Foothill struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 6.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Red Bluff skirted past Foothill 2-0 in their previous meeting back in April. Do the Spartans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cougars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
