The Copper Canyon Aztecs will head out to square off against the Washington Rams at 3:45 p.m. on Monday. One thing working in Copper Canyon's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last seven games.
If Copper Canyon beats Washington with 14 runs on Monday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. Everything went the Aztecs' way against Sierra Linda on Thursday as they made off with a 14-1 win. The Aztecs haven't had any issues with the Bulldogs recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Dariany Flores was a major factor no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 11 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned run off two hits (and only one walk). Those 11 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now snagged at least one in each of the last four games he's played.
Nicholas Encinas
| 04/02/26 @ Sierra Linda | 5 |
| 03/24/26 @ Independence | 3 |
| 03/26/26 vs Independence | 2 |
| 03/20/26 vs Fairfax | 2 |
| 03/18/26 @ Central | 2 |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Nicholas Encinas, who got on base in all five of his plate appearances with four stolen bases, five runs, and one RBI. Those five runs gave him a new career-high. Rene M also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.
Copper Canyon kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in eight consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Washington hadn't done well against Independence recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. The Rams came out on top against the Patriots by a score of 5-2.
Washington let Jonathan Martinez Luna and Rylan Evans run wild. Martinez Luna got on base in two of his three plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs, while Evans went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Dustin Lugo, who went 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Copper Canyon's record now sits at 10-2. As for Washington, their record is now 4-6.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Copper Canyon has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .551. However, it's not like Washington struggles in that department as they've averaged .461. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Copper Canyon got the 'W' when the teams last played back in April of 2025 against Washington by a conclusive 10-0 score. Will the Aztecs repeat their success, or do the Rams have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
