Rancho Mirage hasn't had much luck against Palm Desert recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Rattlers will take on the Aztecs at 6:00 p.m. Rancho Mirage is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.6 runs per game this season.
Having struggled with five defeats in a row, Rancho Mirage turned things around against Cathedral City on Wednesday. They were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over the Lions.
Anelisa Garcia made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out seven batters over six innings while giving up three earned runs off six hits. That's the most strikeouts she has posted since back in February. She was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 2-for-3. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Amiah Olvera was a standout: she scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Lilian Rocha, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Rancho Mirage always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .667. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Cathedral City only posted an OBP of .261.
Meanwhile, Palm Desert lost 18-4 to La Quinta on Tuesday. The Aztecs have struggled against the Blackhawks recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive lost meeting.
Palm Desert saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Aaliyah Tapia, who scored a run while going 3-for-3. Logan Fimbres was another, scoring a run while going 1-for-3.
Palm Desert's loss dropped their record down to 6-9. As for Rancho Mirage, the win got them back to even at 7-7.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Rancho Mirage hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .341. However, it's not like Palm Desert struggles in that department as they've averaged .334. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
