For the second straight game, Columbine will face off against Ralston Valley. The Rebels will venture away from home to face off against the Mustangs at 12:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Columbine has struggled recently with eight losses in a row, while Ralston Valley will arrive with four straight victories.
Columbine fell victim to Ralston Valley and their airtight pitching crew on Thursday. They lost 15-0 to the Mustangs. The matchup marked the first time this season in which the Rebels were not able to get on the board.
For Ralston Valley's part, Jake Watts looked comfortable as he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out eight over four innings pitched. Watts has been consistent: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Degan Gregory, who fired off two home runs, four runs, and five RBI while going 3-for-3. Those five RBI gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Mason Gilbreath, who went 3-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Ralston Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .571. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Columbine only posted an OBP of .286.
Columbine's defeat dropped their record down to 6-10. As for Ralston Valley, their record now sits at 12-4.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Friday. Columbine hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.5 home runs per game. However, it's not like Ralston Valley struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 1.5 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
