Hatch Valley is 8-2 against Hot Springs since June of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Wednesday. The Bears will square off against the Tigers at 3:00 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Hatch Valley has three straight victories, Hot Springs has three straight defeats), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
On Saturday, Hatch Valley made easy work of Socorro and carried off a 12-6 win.
NATHANIEL ALEXANDER looked comfortable as he tossed 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has become a key player for Hatch Valley: the team is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 6-10 otherwise.
ALAN RUIZ
| 04/19/25 @ Socorro | 3 |
| 03/25/25 @ Lordsburg | 3 |
| 04/05/25 @ Tularosa | 2 |
| 03/20/25 vs Zuni | 2 |
| 04/10/25 vs Mesilla Valley Christian School | 1 |
| + 3 more games |
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on ALAN RUIZ, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with three runs, two RBI, and one double. Hatch Valley is 3-1 when RUIZ posts two or more runs, but 5-10 otherwise. Another player making a difference was FRANKLIN WILLIAMS, who got on base in three of his five plate appearances with two runs.
Hatch Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .524. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Hot Springs lost 9-3 to West Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Hunter Montoya was huge no matter where he played even without the win. He tossed 2.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in four consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run.
Montoya wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Tristan Polanco, who went 1-for-4 with three stolen bases and one run. Polanco is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last three games he's played.
Hot Springs' loss dropped their record down to 5-11-1. As for Hatch Valley, their record now sits at 8-11.
Hatch Valley took their victory against Hot Springs in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 8-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bears since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
