The Coolidge Bears will look to defend their home field on Thursday against the Gilbert Christian Knights at 3:45 p.m. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Coolidge has not done well against San Tan Foothills recently (they were 0-9 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. Coolidge walked away with an 8-3 win over San Tan Foothills. The victory was just what Coolidge needed coming off of a 16-10 defeat in their prior match.
Riley Hamilton and Patrick Perez were a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Hamilton struck out eight batters over 5.1 innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits (and only one walk). Meanwhile, Perez pitched 1.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (he also didn't allow any walks). At the plate, Hamilton scored two runs while going 2-for-4, while Perez scored two runs while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Athyn Alphus-Garcia, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a double.
Meanwhile, Gilbert Christian waltzed into their game on Wednesday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They walked away with a 4-1 win over the Eagles.
Brody Aubut spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered one run (which was unearned) on five hits and racked up seven Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Jeremy Kuiper, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Dane Coyle was another key contributor, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Coolidge's victory bumped their record up to 8-5. As for Gilbert Christian, their win bumped their record up to 11-2.
Thursday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Coolidge has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .462. However, it's not like Gilbert Christian struggles in that department as they've averaged .527. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Coolidge might still be hurting after the 9-0 loss they got from Gilbert Christian in their previous matchup back in March of 2023. Will Coolidge have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
