The Monta Vista Matadors will head out to square off against the Gunderson Grizzlies at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Monta Vista was handed a heart-breaking two-run loss in their last matchup, but they sure didn't let that happen against Lynbrook on Thursday. The Matadors put the hurt on the Vikings with a sharp 11-2 win.
Sravik Sajja made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he tossed six innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off three hits. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in strikeouts (four). He was also stellar in the batter's box, scoring four runs and stealing three bases while going 4-for-5.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Joseph Murai, who scored three runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4. Van Chow was another key player, going 1-for-3 with three stolen bases and two RBI.
Monta Vista kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, Gunderson can bid farewell to their three-game losing streak thanks to their game on Thursday. They never let Independence get on the board and left with an 18-0 victory. The game marked the Grizzlies' most dominant win of the season.
Like Monta Vista, Gunderson also got a great game from a two-way player: Jordan Avila. He looked comfortable on the mound, keeping things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Avila also tossed a walk, which is notable because Gunderson is 3-1 when he allows at most one walk, but 3-6 otherwise. Avila was also big at the plate, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
In other batting news, Gunderson got a massive performance out of Brandon Salgado, who went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, five RBI, and three runs. Salgado is becoming a predictor of the Grizzlies' success: when he posts at least two stolen bases the team is undefeated (and 3-7 when he doesn't). Isaiah Chavez also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Monta Vista's record is now 11-5. As for Gunderson, their record now sits at 6-7.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Saturday as neither team is afraid to steal. Monta Vista has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Gunderson struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Monta Vista suffered a grim 17-2 defeat to Gunderson when the teams last played back in March of 2022. Can the Matadors avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
