Baseball Game Preview: Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Wolves vs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo Bulldogs

The Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Wolves will challenge the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Bulldogs at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville is looking for their season's first victory.

In Friday's Canine Competition, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville didn't have enough. They lost 10-2 to Cobleskill-Richmondville on Friday.

For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Middleburgh meet (five straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Friday. The Bulldogs fell just short of the Knights by a score of 5-3.

Ryan Heath put in work no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, striking out seven batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and two unearned) runs off three hits. Heath was also big at the plate, getting on base in two of his three plate appearances with three stolen bases and two runs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo is 2-1 when Heath posts two or more runs, but 2-6-1 otherwise.

Heath wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Merrick Damin, who went 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI.

Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville's defeat dropped their record down to 0-4. As for Berne-Knox-Westerlo, their loss dropped their record down to 4-7-1.

Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville might still be hurting after the 7-1 defeat they got from Berne-Knox-Westerlo in their previous matchup back in April of 2024. Can the Wolves avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.