The Benson Bobcats will square off against the Santa Cruz Valley Dust Devils at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. Benson has given up an average of 10.9 runs per game this season, so hopefully the team got some pitching drills in this week.
Benson is headed into Friday's game looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight game on Monday. They lost 17-2 to Horizon Honors.
Benson saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Kaylei Taylor, who scored a run while going 1-for-2.
Meanwhile, Santa Cruz Valley got themselves on the board against Camp Verde on Tuesday, but Camp Verde never followed suit. They were the clear victor by a 10-0 margin over the Cowboys. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Dust Devils.
The result came thanks to Alyssa Flores's shutout, as she gave up just two hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Mikayla Leos, who scored two runs while going 3-for-4. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Tatiyana Reyes was another key player, scoring a run and stealing a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.
Santa Cruz Valley's win bumped their record up to 3-1. As for Benson, their loss dropped their record down to 3-6.
Benson's speedy runners might be the difference in Friday's contest. Benson has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.3 stolen bases per game. It's a different story for Santa Cruz Valley, though, as they've been averaging only 0.8 stolen bases. Will they be able to secure the bases, or will Benson continue to outrun the ball?
Benson suffered a grim 15-4 defeat to Santa Cruz Valley when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can Benson avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
