The Shiprock Chieftains will take on the Hozho Academy Wolves at 3:00 p.m. on Monday. Hozho Academy took a loss in their last match and will be looking to turn the tables on Shiprock, who comes in off a win.
Shiprock picked up another tournament win on Saturday. Everything went their way against Tularosa as Shiprock made off with an 11-5 win. The result was nothing new for the Chieftains, who have now won four games by six runs or more so far this season.
Taylor Hale was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He struck out nine batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off six hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his five plate appearances with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. Shiprock is undefeated when Hale posts two or more runs, but 2-4 otherwise.
Jeramyh Begay
| 03/21/25 @ Dexter | 3 |
| 03/14/25 vs Dove Creek | 3 |
| 03/22/25 vs Tularosa | 2 |
| 03/17/25 vs Monument Valley | 1 |
In other batting news, Shiprock got a massive performance out of Jeramyh Begay, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all five of his plate appearances. Begay is becoming a predictor of Shiprock's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 2-4 when he doesn't). Khalil Nakai was another key player, scoring three runs while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances.
Shiprock kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Tularosa only managed four hits.
Meanwhile, Hozho Academy lost 17-3 to Santa Teresa on Saturday.
Hozho Academy saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Adrian Ternes, who scored a run while going 2-for-2.
Shiprock pushed their record up to 5-4 with the victory, which was their third straight at home. The wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.7 runs on average over those games. As for Hozho Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 2-2.
Monday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Shiprock has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .519. However, it's not like Hozho Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .545. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
