The Hanford West Huskies will square off against the Selma Bears at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Hanford West is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.
While Hanford West's victory against Reedley wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Huskies sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-4 win over the Pirates on Friday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Huskies have posted since March 24th.
Rylan Montoya spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned runs on 12 hits.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Amariz Hernandez, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Kennidy Perryman, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Hanford West kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Selma got themselves on the board against Central Valley Christian on Friday, but Central Valley Christian never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over the Cavaliers. The high-scoring performance was a welcome turnaround for the Bears' hitters, who had struggled in the games prior.
Natalie Calixtro was excellent, going 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run. That triple was her first of the season. Lillyen Moreno was another key player, going 1-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
Hanford West's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 15-6. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.5 runs over those games. As for Selma, their win bumped their record up to 11-9-1.
Hanford West's speedy runners might be the difference in Tuesday's matchup. The Huskies have been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.2 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Selma, though, as they've been averaging only 1 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Hanford West continue to outrun the ball?
Everything went Hanford West's way against Selma in their previous matchup on April 4th, as Hanford West made off with a 19-11 victory. Will the Huskies repeat their success, or do the Bears have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
