West is 1-9 against Foothill since February of 2019 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Tuesday. The Vikings will be playing in front of their home fans against the Trojans at 4:00 p.m.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between West and South, and South kept the tradition alive. The Vikings took a 10-6 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Spartans on Thursday.
Cris Melendez
| 04/03/25 @ South | 2 |
| 04/01/25 vs South | 1 |
| 03/27/25 vs North | 2 |
| 03/25/25 vs East Bakersfield | 2 |
Cris Melendez and Jesse Benitez did some serious damage despite the final result: Melendez scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-4, while Benitez scored a run and stole three bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Melendez is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played.
Meanwhile, Foothill came tearing into Monday's match with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured an 8-7 W against the Titans. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Trojans have posted since May 10, 2024.
Ramon Diaz was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out six batters over six innings while giving up four earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits. Diaz was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with three RBI. That's the most RBI he has posted since back in May of 2024.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Joaquin Carrillo, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Joezeph Camberos, who scored two runs while getting on base in all three of his plate appearances.
Foothill always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .559. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
West's loss dropped their record down to 4-9. As for Foothill, their win bumped their record up to 8-5.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. West has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .444. However, it's not like Foothill struggles in that department as they've averaged .441. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
West might still be hurting after the 10-3 defeat they got from Foothill in their previous meeting back in March. Can the Vikings avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
