The Copper Canyon Aztecs will challenge the Lee Williams Volunteers at 3:45 p.m. on Monday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Copper Canyon is headed into Monday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Thursday. They were a single run away from ending the streak, but they lost a 15-14 heartbreaker at the hands of Glendale. Despite running the score up even higher than they did in their prior game on Tuesday (13), the Aztecs still had to take the loss.
Maria Espinoza made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and went 4-for-5 with three RBI and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Ellecia Gonzales, who went 2-for-5 with two RBI, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Lee Williams hadn't done well against Bradshaw Mountain recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. The Volunteers put the hurt on the Bears with a sharp 22-7 victory. The result was nothing new for the Volunteers, who have now won nine matchups by seven runs or more so far this season.
Aivree Austin made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run over four innings pitched. Austin was also big at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and two doubles. Those two doubles gave her a new career-high.
In other batting news, Lee Williams let Ava Willis-Bertram and Sami Marshall run wild. Willis-Bertram went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI, while Marshall went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most RBI Marshall has posted since back in March. Raeleigh Pugh was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Lee Williams kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 17 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in seven consecutive contests.
Copper Canyon's loss dropped their record down to 5-14. As for Lee Williams, their win bumped their record up to 10-14.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Copper Canyon has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Lee Williams struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 4 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Copper Canyon suffered a grim 18-2 defeat to Lee Williams in their previous meeting back in April of 2016. Can the Aztecs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
