Northridge Academy is on a four-game streak of home wins, while Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences is on a four-game streak of away wins (dating back to last season): one of those streaks is about to end. The Pumas will host the Vipers at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Last Monday, Northridge Academy made easy work of Vaughn and carried off a 25-3 victory.
Alondra Laguna made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in ten consecutive appearances. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 4-for-5 with one home run, four stolen bases, and five runs.
In other batting news, Northridge Academy got a massive performance out of Jackie Nettles, who fired off two home runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases while getting on base in all five of her plate appearances. Guadalupe Ortiz was another key player, scoring four runs and stealing five bases while going 4-for-5.
Northridge Academy kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. They are a perfect 9-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, after only one run in their last match, Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences made sure to put some runs up on the board against East Valley on Monday. The Vipers were the clear victors by a 30-10 margin over the Falcons. The win continues a trend for the Vipers in their matchups with the Falcons: they've now won three in a row.
The team relied heavily on Kaida Vorster, who went 5-for-6 with three stolen bases, eight RBI, and five runs. Those five runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Ruth Zambrano, who scored five runs and stole a base while getting on base in all six of her plate appearances.
Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences now has a winning record of 3-2. As for Northridge Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 9-3.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Northridge Academy hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .527. However, it's not like Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences struggles in that department as they've averaged .585. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Northridge Academy took their win against Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 8-2 score. Will the Pumas repeat their success, or do the Vipers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
