The Pima Roughriders will take on the Gilbert Classical Academy Spartans at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Pima will be strutting in after a win while Gilbert Classical Academy will be coming in after a defeat.
Having struggled with four losses in a row, Pima turned things around against Morenci on Monday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Wildcats 8-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Roughriders have posted against the Wildcats since March 22, 2022.
Preston Russell was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He pitched 5.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off seven hits. He has been consistent : he hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base.
Cedrick Grimes
| 04/07/25 vs Morenci | 2 |
| 03/29/25 @ Round Valley | 2 |
| 03/01/25 @ Bourgade Catholic | 2 |
| 03/19/25 vs Benson | 1 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Cedrick Grimes, who scored a run and stole two bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances. Pima is 2-1 when Grimes posts two or more stolen bases, but 2-6-1 otherwise. Ramon Hernandez was another key player, scoring a run while going 2-for-2.
Pima always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .529. The last time their OBP was this high was back in April of 2024.
Meanwhile, Gilbert Classical Academy lost 14-3 to Wickenburg on Monday. The Spartans have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Like Pima, Gilbert Classical Academy also got a great game from a two-way player: Beckett Elliott. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. What's more, Elliott gave up only zero earned runs, the fewest he's had since back in March of 2024. He was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
Elliott wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Max Fioresi, who scored a run while going 1-for-3. Fioresi also put up a double, which was his first of the season.
Pima's victory bumped their record up to 4-7-1. As for Gilbert Classical Academy, their defeat dropped their record down to an identical 4-7-1.
