The Winslow Bulldogs will square off against the Bourgade Catholic Golden Eagles at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Winslow is coming into the contest hot, having won their last four games.
While Winslow's victory against Chino Valley wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Bulldogs skirted past the Cougars 4-2. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Bulldogs have posted since March 30, 2024.
Kyah Wilcox made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out six batters over four innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit (and only one walk). Wilcox was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-3.
In other batting news, Cassius Tsosie was excellent, going 2-for-3 with one triple, one run, and one double. Angela Salazar was another key player, scoring a run while going 3-for-3.
Meanwhile, Bourgade Catholic got the win against Gilbert Christian on Tuesday by a conclusive 24-1. The result was nothing new for the Golden Eagles, who have now won 12 matchups by ten runs or more so far this season.
Like Winslow, Bourgade Catholic also got a great game from a two-way player: Olivia Durazo. She tossed two innings while giving up just one earned run but no hits. Durazo was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while going 1-for-2.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Esther Quezada, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with five stolen bases, six RBI, and four runs. Those four runs gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Riley McManness, who scored four runs and stole four bases while going 2-for-3.
Bourgade Catholic always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .730. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Gilbert Christian only posted an OBP of .417.
Bourgade Catholic has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won seven of their last eight games. That's provided a nice bump to their 16-7 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.4 runs over those games. As for Winslow, their win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-9.
Friday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Winslow has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .516. However, it's not like Bourgade Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .538. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Winslow came out on top in a nail-biter against Bourgade Catholic in their previous matchup back in May of 2022, sneaking past 8-7. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Bulldogs since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
