Bagdad is a perfect 4-0 against Desert Heights Prep since February of 2023 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Thursday. The Sultans will take on the Yote at 3:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Having struggled with three defeats in a row, Bagdad turned things around against Maryvale Prep on Tuesday. They put the hurt on the Matador with a sharp 18-1 win. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Sultans considering their one-run performance the matchup before.
Bubba Myers
| 04/15/25 vs Maryvale Prep | 4 |
| 04/12/25 vs San Tan Charter | 2 |
| 04/03/25 vs Desert Heights Prep | 2 |
| 03/28/25 @ St. David | 1 |
| 03/21/25 @ Superior | 2 |
| 03/04/25 vs Salome | 11 |
Bubba Myers made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. What's more, he posted four strikeouts, the most he's had since back in March. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Destry Owings was incredible, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while going 3-for-4. He has been hot, having posted at least one stolen base the last eight times he's played. Dj Gramanz was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Bagdad always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .700. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Desert Heights Prep never let their opponents score on Friday. Everything went their way against Red Rock as they made off with a 22-0 victory. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Yote.
Like Bagdad, Desert Heights Prep also got a great game from a two-way player: Kyson Kobbe. Throwing, Kobbe pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Meanwhile, Jayven Reyes pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. At the plate, Kobbe went 3-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and three runs, while Reyes went 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That home run was Kobbe's first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cayle Haskell, who went 2-for-5 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. That home run marked the first that he launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Jesse Aguon, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Bagdad's win was their seventh straight at home, which pushed their record up to 16-4. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.7 runs on average over those games. As for Desert Heights Prep, their record now sits at 8-1-1.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Bagdad has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .503. However, it's not like Desert Heights Prep struggles in that department as they've averaged .457. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Bagdad took their win against Desert Heights Prep in their previous meeting two weeks ago by a conclusive 13-4 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Sultans since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
