The Academy for Academic Excellence Knights will square off against the Hesperia Scorpions at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday. Academy for Academic Excellence is coming into the contest on a four-game losing streak.
Things were looking good for Academy for Academic Excellence after they put the first points on the board on Monday, but unfortunately for them things went downhill from there. They took a 6-1 hit to the loss column at the hands of Barstow.
Nathan Rudd was huge while hitting and pitching even without the win. He tossed five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits. Rudd was also solid in the batter's box, going a perfect 2-for-2 with one stolen base and one RBI. That stolen base marked the first that he snagged this season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Hesperia). They blew past Hesperia Christian 26-3 on Tuesday. With that victory, the Scorpions brought their scoring average up to 8.2 runs per game.
Like Academy for Academic Excellence, Hesperia also got a great game from a two-way player: Silas Skinner. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out eight batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and not a single walk). Skinner has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than one walk in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Josh Flores and Dru Lona did most of the damage at the plate: Flores went 3-for-4 with five RBI, three runs, and one double, while Lona scored five runs and stole Two bases. while getting on base in four of his five plate appearances. That's the most runs Flores has posted since back in April of 2024. Nathan Rodriguez was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Hesperia was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .429. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive games.
Academy for Academic Excellence's defeat dropped their record down to 2-5. As for Hesperia, their win bumped their record up to 4-2.
Academy for Academic Excellence might still be hurting after the 14-0 loss they got from Hesperia in their previous matchup back in March of 2024. Will Academy for Academic Excellence have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
