The Southwestern League baseball season opened with intensity Monday as all six teams began their pursuit of league dominance. Fans were treated to thrilling matchups, standout individual performances, and games that are setting the tone for what promises to be an electrifying season of high school baseball. Here’s the rundown of the opening action across the league.
Chaparral edges past Murrieta Mesa in nail-biter
History repeated itself on Monday as Chaparral extended the home-team winning streak to five games against Murrieta Mesa. The Pumas delivered a 3-1 victory over the Rams in a tightly contested opener that left fans on the edge of their seats.
With the win, Chaparral elevated their record to 9-3 (1-0 league), while the Rams fell to an identical 9-3 record (0-1 league). The outcome marked Chaparral’s closest victory since last April, highlighting the evenly matched nature of the two teams. Griffin Fien led the Pumas at the plate with 2 hits in three at bats with a double and home run. Brody Harkey got the win with his 5 innings on the mound, striking out 3 and only giving up 1 earned run. Despite striking out 5 batters, Tanner Blackmon took the loss allowing 3 earned runs on 7 hits for the Rams.
The series is far from over, though. Both teams will face off again on Wednesday at Murrieta Mesa, with the Rams itching for redemption on their home turf. The series finale is set for Friday when the action returns to Chaparral’s field, and fans are gearing up for a potential split or series sweep.
Temecula Valley dominates Vista Murrieta
The Temecula Valley Golden Bears flexed their muscle against Vista Murrieta, opening their league campaign with an emphatic 10-2 win on the road. Chase Hilt was instrumental for the Golden Bears, both on the mound and at the plate.
Hilt pitched seven strong innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs while striking out four. His command on the mound and leadership at the plate—where he recorded three hits in five at-bats—set the tone for Temecula Valley’s convincing performance.
Supporting Hilt’s efforts was Will Bandel, who chipped in with two hits, two RBIs, and a clutch double that kept the offense surging. On the other side, Vista Murrieta’s Vaughn Neckar struck out eight in 3.2 innings but allowed three earned runs and took the loss.
The Broncos will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they travel to Temecula Valley for Game 2 of the series. Game 3 will return to Vista Murrieta on Friday, giving the Broncos a shot at redemption in front of their home crowd.
Murrieta Valley blanks Great Oak
Murrieta Valley got off to a strong start in league play with a commanding 4-0 victory over Great Oak. Nolan Hill was nearly untouchable on the mound, throwing a complete game with seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits over seven innings.
Helping to seal the win was senior standout Riley Kujawa, who went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs in a standout offensive performance. The Nighthawks capitalized on home-field advantage, giving their fans plenty to cheer about in the opener.
The series now shifts to Great Oak for Game 2 on Wednesday before returning to Murrieta Valley for the final game on Friday. Great Oak’s lineup will be hoping to reverse their fortunes as they aim to avoid falling too far behind in league play.
With the first games in the rearview mirror, the Southwestern League is already shaping up to be a tightly contested battle. Here’s a look at where the teams stand after Monday’s action:
- Chaparral (9-3 overall, 1-0 league)
- Temecula Valley (8-5 overall, 1-0 league)
- Murrieta Valley (3-10 overall, 1-0 league)
- Murrieta Mesa (9-3 overall, 0-1 league)
- Vista Murrieta (8-5-1 overall, 0-1 league)
- Great Oak (4-10 overall, 0-1 league)
Next week, SWL teams will continue their league battles with spotlight matchups including Vista Murrieta and Great Oak, Chaparral against Temecula Valley, and Murrieta Mesa clashing with Murrieta Valley.
The Southwestern League is already delivering drama, excitement, and excellent baseball. Make sure to follow the series this week to see who comes out on top in these pivotal matchups.
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