Temecula Valley and Great Oak are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2021, but likely not for long. The Golden Bears will head out on the road to challenge the Wolfpack at 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Temecula Valley is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
Temecula Valley hadn't beaten Murrieta Mesa on the road since April 26, 2023 but that history sure didn't bother them on Friday. The Golden Bears blew past the Rams 13-5.
Scott Forest looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances.
Stone Tucker
| 04/25/25 @ Murrieta Mesa | 2 |
| 04/11/25 @ Vista Murrieta | 1 |
| 04/07/25 @ Vista Murrieta | 1 |
| 03/28/25 vs Heritage | 1 |
| 03/21/25 @ Capistrano Valley Christian | 1 |
On the hitting side, Temecula Valley got a massive performance out of Stone Tucker, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Those two runs gave Tucker a new career-high. Landon Scott also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.
Temecula Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Great Oak entered their tilt with Chaparral on Friday with two consecutive wins, and they'll enter their next game with three. They came out on top against the Pumas by a score of 10-5. That's two games straight that the Wolfpack have won by exactly five runs.
Roy Kim looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out ten over four innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Great Oak is 3-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 6-12 otherwise.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Wes Shanabarger, who fired off two home runs, four runs, and four RBI while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Jaxon Valenzuela, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI.
Temecula Valley's record is now 12-9. As for Great Oak, their record now sits at 9-13.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Temecula Valley has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.5 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Great Oak struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.4 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Temecula Valley couldn't quite finish off Great Oak when the teams last played back in April of 2024 and fell 6-4. Can the Golden Bears avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
