The Chaparral Firebirds will head out on the road to square off against the Desert Edge Scorpions at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
Last Monday, Chaparral didn't have quite enough to beat Notre Dame Prep and fell 6-5. The Firebirds have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Ava Stallone made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and scored a run while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances. Bria Belden was another key player, scoring two runs while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, everything went Desert Edge's way against North Canyon on Thursday as Desert Edge made off with a 15-8 win. Considering the Scorpions have won three matchups by more than six runs this season, Thursday's blowout was nothing new.
Aliyah Fatigoni (2027) was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up six earned (and two unearned) runs off 13 hits (and not a single walk). Furthermore, she didn't allow a single walk, the first time she has blanked an opponent since back in April of 2024. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 3-for-5.
In other batting news, Desert Edge got a massive performance out of Gwen Alvarez (2026), who went 3-for-4 with four RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Leila Taylor (2027), who scored three runs while going 4-for-5.
Desert Edge always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .595. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as North Canyon only posted an OBP of .343.
The victory made it two in a row for Desert Edge and bumps their season record up to 5-5. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.5 runs over those games. As for Chaparral, their defeat dropped their record down to 6-8.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Chaparral has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .528. However, it's not like Desert Edge struggles in that department as they've averaged .555. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Chaparral took their win against Desert Edge in their previous matchup last Thursday by a conclusive 16-2. Will Chaparral repeat their success, or does Desert Edge have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
