The Rancho Verde Mustangs will face off against the Bloomington Bruins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. The last three games Rancho Verde has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Wednesday, Rancho Verde needed a bit of extra time to put away Canyon Springs. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Cougars 2-1. The win continues a trend for the Mustangs in their matchups with the Cougars: they've now won four in a row.
The team relied heavily on Janson Moreno, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, while Bloomington put up some runs on Thursday, the same can't be said for Arroyo Valley. The Bruins were the clear victors by a 10-0 margin over the Hawks. Considering the Bruins' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Jayden Lopez was incredible, going 3-for-5 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run. Those two RBI gave him a new career-high. Israel Garcia was another key player, getting on base in both of his plate appearances with three stolen bases and two runs.
Bloomington's victory bumped their record up to 14-5. As for Rancho Verde, their win bumped their record up to 11-5.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Rancho Verde hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .325. However, it's not like Bloomington struggles in that department as they've averaged .322. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Rancho Verde couldn't quite get it done against Bloomington in their previous matchup back in March of 2024 as they fell 8-5. Will the Mustangs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
