The Goldwater Bulldogs will square off against the Paradise Honors Panthers at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Goldwater is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7 runs per game this season.
Last Friday, Goldwater was able to grind out a solid win over Agua Fria, taking the game 13-9. The Bulldogs haven't had any issues with the Owls recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
Micaela De La Torre was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over 6.1 innings while giving up four earned (and three unearned) runs off ten hits. De La Torre was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-4.
In other batting news, Goldwater let Johanna Hampton and Avrie White run wild. Hampton went 3-for-4 with one home run, three runs, and four RBI, while White scored four runs and stole four bases while going 4-for-4. That's the most stolen bases White has posted since back in April of 2024. Faith Pederson was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-5.
Goldwater kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Paradise Honors had already won nine in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 15.6 runs) and they went ahead and made it ten on Monday. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 3-2 W against the Cobras. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Panthers have posted since March 4th.
Olivia Jimenez Facio spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered two runs (both of which were unearned) on five hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than one earned run in eight consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, Ashlyn Elliott was excellent, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 3-for-4. That stolen base was her first of the season.
Paradise Honors' victory was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-7. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.7 runs on average over those games. As for Goldwater, their victory bumped their record up to 4-9.
Tuesday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Goldwater hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .332. However, it's not like Paradise Honors struggles in that department as they've averaged .393. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Goldwater suffered a grim 20-0 defeat to Paradise Honors when the teams last played back in March of 2022. Can the Bulldogs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
