The Willcox Cowboys are taking a road trip to take on the Santa Cruz Valley Dust Devils at 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Willcox has given up an average of 9.8 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
While Willcox's victory against Morenci wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. Willcox sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 17-16 win over Morenci on Thursday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Cowboys have posted since February 27th.
Layla Donahue was incredible, going 3-for-6 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. That home run was her first of the season. Janelle Vandermeulen was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-5.
Donahue wasn't the only one working in the home run department: Willcox lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Santa Cruz Valley came up short against Horizon Honors on Thursday and fell 6-3. The Dust Devils have struggled against the Eagles recently, as the game was their third consecutive lost meeting.
Layla Brown spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and four unearned) runs on ten hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in nine consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Audrina Reyes was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run while going 1-for-2. Another player making a difference was Mikayla Leos, who went 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Willcox is on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last nine games. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-7 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.0 runs over those games. Santa Cruz Valley's loss dropped their record down to 9-4.
Monday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Willcox hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .399. However, it's not like Santa Cruz Valley struggles in that department as they've averaged .419. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Willcox came up short against Santa Cruz Valley when the teams last played back in March of 2024, falling 12-7. Can Willcox avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.