The Cholla Chargers will face off against the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Cholla will be strutting in after a victory while Pusch Ridge Christian Academy will be coming in after a loss.
Cholla took a loss when they played away from home on Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. They blew past Amphitheater 19-2. The win continues a trend for the Chargers in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now won five in a row.
Isabella Pratti made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Pratti was also big at the plate, scoring two runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
In other batting news, Maiya Encinas was a standout: she scored three runs while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances. Another player making a difference was Anasofia Garcia, who scored two runs and stole three bases.
Cholla was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .500. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Amphitheater only posted a batting average of .200.
Meanwhile, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy came up short against Maricopa on Thursday and fell 6-3. The Lions have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Josie Burnside spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and four unearned) runs on four hits and racked up seven Ks.
On the hitting side, Hadley English made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Addie Norris, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two stolen bases and one RBI.
Cholla's victory bumped their record up to 3-7. As for Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, they now have a losing record of 6-7.
Tuesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Cholla has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .559. However, it's not like Pusch Ridge Christian Academy struggles in that department as they've averaged .463. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Cholla couldn't quite finish off Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in their previous meeting back in April of 2021 and fell 6-4. Will Cholla 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 softball content.
