Softball Recap: Blacklick Valley Comes Up Short

Blacklick Valley extended their losing streak to four on Thursday, dropping their season record down to 4-13 in the process. They came up short against the Shade Panthers, falling 13-0. The Vikings were not able to make up for their defeat to the Panthers from their previous meeting back in May of 2024.

As for Shade, they have been performing well recently as they've won eight of their last ten games. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-4 record this season. They might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five matchups by eight runs or more this season.

For Shade's part, Jaedyn Krupper made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out seven over five innings pitched. Krupper was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, two runs, and one double. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March.

In other batting news, Katy Kovacs was a standout: she went 1-for-2 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI. Patty Kovacs was another key player, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with three runs and one RBI.

Looking ahead, Blacklick Valley will face off against Northern Cambria at 4:30 a.m. on Friday. The Colts have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 7.73 runs per game on average), something the Vikings will no doubt try to take advantage of. As for Shade, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Conemaugh Township at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.