The ThunderRidge Grizzlies will head out to take on the Boulder Panthers at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. ThunderRidge is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.
ThunderRidge barely beat Highlands Ranch the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Grizzlies' pitcher stepped up to hand the Falcons a 6-0 shutout on Friday. The Grizzlies have beaten the Falcons the last three times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Falcons has come to flipping the script.
Not much got past Cameron Carpinello, who gave up just two hits and racked up seven Ks to keep Highlands Ranch off the board. Carpinello has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in ten consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Hudson Fagerholt was excellent, going 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double. Another player making a difference was Ashton Santomo, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and two runs.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: ThunderRidge kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Highlands Ranch only managed three.
Meanwhile, Boulder got the win against Westminster on Friday by a conclusive 11-1.
Kai Paradise looked comfortable as he pitched four innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits.
On the hitting side, Maks Matheson and Sam Skubic did most of the damage at the plate: Matheson went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, two doubles, and two RBI, while Skubic got on base in all four of his plate appearances with three RBI, two runs, and one double. Those two doubles gave Matheson a new career-high. Miles Love also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
ThunderRidge's record now sits at 9-12. As for Boulder, their record is now 14-7.
Fans could be in store for some top-tier slugging on Saturday. ThunderRidge hasn't had any problems when it comes to power this season, having averaged 0.9 home runs per game. However, it's not like Boulder struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 0.8 home runs. With so much power on both teams, it'll be down to the pitchers to keep the mound locked down.
ThunderRidge beat Boulder 6-3 in their previous meeting back in May of 2025. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Grizzlies since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
