The Combs Coyotes will square off against the ALA - Queen Creek Patriots at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Combs is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 9.8 runs per game this season.
Combs lost a heartbreaker the last time they played Tempe, but it's fair to say they got their revenge given the result of Wednesday's contest. The Coyotes were the clear victors by a 23-4 margin over the Buffaloes on Wednesday. The Coyotes might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine games by six runs or more this season.
Melissa Gonzalez made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. What's more, she posted four strikeouts, the most she's had since back in April of 2025. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three runs, three RBI, and two doubles.
Charlotte Paterson
| 04/08/26 @ Tempe | 3 |
| 02/27/26 @ Tuba City | 2 |
| 02/25/26 vs Desert Sunrise | 2 |
| 03/23/26 vs Dysart | 1 |
| 02/26/26 @ ALA - Anthem South | 1 |
In other batting news, Charlotte Paterson was a standout: she got on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run, four runs, and three RBI. Those three RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Emery Huffaker, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
Combs always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .727. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their OBP total in three consecutive matchups.
ALA - Queen Creek couldn't beat Combs on Tuesday even though they stacked four runs on them in the seventh inning. The Patriots fell 11-6 to the Coyotes.
Kamrynn Phillips and Tatum Morris stepped up to the plate in a big way. Phillips went a perfect 1-for-1 with one home run, one stolen base, and two RBI, while Morris went 3-for-4 with two triples and two runs. That home run was Phillips' first of the season. Sadie Nielson was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
ALA - Queen Creek has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 9-12 record this season. Those losses can't be blamed on the team's hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.8 runs over those games. As for Combs, their win bumped their record up to 12-5.
ALA - Queen Creek's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Combs has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.2 hits per game. It's a different story for ALA - Queen Creek, though, as they've been averaging 9 hits. Given Combs' sizable advantage in that area, the Patriots will need to find a way to close that gap.
Combs beat ALA - Queen Creek 11-6 in their previous meeting on Tuesday. Will the Coyotes repeat their success, or do the Patriots have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
