Orange and Santa Ana Valley are an even 3-3 against one another since March of 2016, but likely not for long. The Panthers will look to defend their home field on Friday against the Falcons at 3:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
While Orange's win against La Quinta wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Panthers sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 3-1 victory over the Aztecs on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Panthers have posted since February 27, 2024.
Scarlett Poitra
| 04/09/25 vs La Quinta | 12 |
| 04/04/25 @ Estancia | 8 |
| 03/28/25 vs Loara | 7 |
| 03/26/25 @ Santa Ana Valley | 12 |
| 03/24/25 @ La Quinta | 10 |
Scarlett Poitra spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on four hits and racked up 12 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts any time she's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, LeAnn Velasquez was excellent, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and one RBI. Those two stolen bases gave her a new career-high. Anabelle Alvarado was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
Meanwhile, Santa Ana Valley had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 9.2 runs) and they went ahead and made it six on Friday. They blew past the Saxons 10-1. The result was nothing new for the Falcons, who have now won seven matchups by nine runs or more so far this season.
Santa Ana Valley also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Espy Guerrero gave up only one earned run on three hits.
At the plate, Santa Ana Valley got a massive performance out of Ashley Castor, who went 1-for-2 with one home run and four RBI. That home run was Castor's first of the season. Another player making a difference was Yareli Sanchez, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her five plate appearances.
Santa Ana Valley's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 9-2. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.0 run on average over those games. As for Orange, their victory ended an eight-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 3-9.
Orange couldn't quite get it done against Santa Ana Valley in their previous meeting two weeks ago as they fell 7-3. Will the Panthers 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.
