The Simi Valley Pioneers will square off against the Grace Lancers at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The last three games Simi Valley has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Simi Valley took a eight-run loss the last time they faced off against Thousand Oaks, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. Simi Valley won by a run and slipped past Thousand Oaks 3-2. While the Pioneers didn't have the best season last year (they finished 11-16), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Francesca Hall spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on five hits and racked up six Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Aurora Zepeda, who went 1-for-3 with one home run. Another player making a difference was Arianna Ochoa, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
Simi Valley hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now struck out at most five strikeouts in four consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Grace got the win against Vasquez on Tuesday by a conclusive 10-4. The Lancers haven't had any issues with the Mustangs recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Grace's win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 2-1. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.6 runs on average over those games. As for Simi Valley, their victory bumped their record up to 6-1.
Simi Valley came up short against Grace in their previous meeting back in April of 2024, falling 4-1. Will Simi Valley have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
