The Coolidge Bears are taking a road trip to challenge the Globe Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Coolidge barely beat Apache Junction the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Bears put the hurt on the Prospectors with a sharp 23-6 win on Tuesday. That 17-run margin sets a new team best for the Bears this season.
Aliana Ruiz was a standout: she went a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. Those three runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Genesis Payne, who got on base in three of her five plate appearances with one home run, two stolen bases, and three runs.
Coolidge always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .675. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Globe got the win against Apache Junction on Thursday by a conclusive 19-1. The result was nothing new for the Tigers, who have now won seven contests by eight runs or more so far this season.
Jade Verdugo made a splash while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out seven over four innings pitched. Verdugo was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season.
In other batting news, Globe let Loghan Williamson and Zoey Tulk run wild. Williamson got on base in all four of her plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI, while Tulk went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs. The team also got some help courtesy of Antonella Franco, who got on base in two of her three plate appearances with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI.
Globe's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 13-7. Those road wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.5 runs on average over those games. As for Coolidge, they picked up their first road victory, bumping their record up to 4-9-2.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Coolidge hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .344. However, it's not like Globe struggles in that department as they've averaged .340. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Everything went Coolidge's way against Globe in their previous matchup back in April of 2025, as Coolidge made off with a 15-0 win. Will the Bears repeat their success, or do the Tigers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
