Spring Valley has gone 9-1 against Ridge View recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Vikings will take on the Blazers at 6:30 p.m. One thing working in Spring Valley's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last three games.
If Spring Valley beats Ridge View with 16 runs on Thursday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two matchups with that exact score. The Vikings didn't even let Richland Northeast on the board on Wednesday, marking the Vikings' second-straight 16-0 shutout.
Luke Smoak made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. What's more, he posted three strikeouts, the most he's had since back in February. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Max Saltzman
| 03/25/26 @ Richland Northeast | 2 |
| 03/17/26 vs Blythewood | 1 |
| 03/02/26 vs Irmo | 1 |
| 02/28/26 vs Westside | 1 |
In other batting news, Spring Valley let Max Saltzman and Jackson Williams run wild. Saltzman went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, and one double, while Williams went a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Those two hits gave Saltzman a new career-high. Andrew Kirby was another key player, going 1-for-2 with three runs and one RBI.
Spring Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .690. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Tuesday just wasn't the day for Ridge View's offense. They lost 16-0 to Spring Valley on Tuesday. The Blazers haven't had much luck with the Vikings recently, as the team has come up short the last seven times they've met.
Ridge View's loss dropped their record down to 6-4. As for Spring Valley, their win ended a four-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 4-7.
Thursday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Spring Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .314. However, it's not like Ridge View struggles in that department as they've averaged .359. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Spring Valley got the 'W' when the teams last played on Tuesday against Ridge View by a conclusive 16-0 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Vikings since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
