The Independence Patriots will venture away from home to challenge the Maryvale Panthers at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Independence has given up an average of 7.1 runs per game this season, but Wednesday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
While Independence's win against Washington wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Patriots had just enough and edged out the Rams 15-14 on Tuesday. Winning may never get old, but the Patriots sure are getting used to it with their third in a row.
Annabelle Mendez was a standout: she went 3-for-5 with six stolen bases, four runs, and one RBI. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April of 2025. Another player making a difference was Alondra Garcia, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one triple.
Independence hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Maryvale). They walked away with a 23-19 victory over Camelback on Tuesday. With that win, the Panthers brought their scoring average up to 6.4 runs per game.
Maryvale got a massive performance out of Jaline Ortega, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, two stolen bases, and four RBI. That home run marked the first that Ortega has launched this season. Princess Nicolette Nu?ez was another key player, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with four stolen bases, three runs, and one double.
Maryvale's first victory this season bumped their record up to 1-6. As for Independence, their record now sits at 7-1.
Maryvale's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Wednesday. Independence has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.4 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Maryvale, though, as they've been averaging only 2.1 strikeouts. Will Independence keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?
Independence skirted past Maryvale 4-3 in their previous meeting back in March of 2025. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Patriots since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
