The Gilbert Christian Knights will head out on the road to face off against the Coolidge Bears at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Gilbert Christian will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
Gilbert Christian gave up the first runs on Wednesday, but they didn't let that get them down. They walked away with a 4-1 win over Scottsdale Christian Academy.
Brody Aubut spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered one run (which was unearned) on five hits and racked up seven Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances.
At the plate, Jeremy Kuiper was excellent, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Dane Coyle, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Coolidge has not done well against San Tan Foothills recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. Coolidge walked away with an 8-3 victory over San Tan Foothills. The win was just what Coolidge needed coming off of a 16-10 defeat in their prior matchup.
Riley Hamilton and Patrick Perez made a big impact while hitting and pitching. Throwing, Hamilton struck out eight batters over 5.1 innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Meanwhile, Perez tossed 1.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (he also didn't allow any walks). At bat, Hamilton scored two runs while going 2-for-4, while Perez scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Athyn Alphus-Garcia was excellent, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a double.
Gilbert Christian's record now sits at 11-2. As for Coolidge, their record is now 8-5.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Gilbert Christian has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .527. However, it's not like Coolidge struggles in that department as they've averaged .462. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Gilbert Christian took their victory against Coolidge in their previous matchup back in March of 2023 by a conclusive 9-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Gilbert Christian since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
