Upper Merion Area hasn't had much luck against Pope John Paul II recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Vikings will head out to face off against Pope John Paul II at 4:00 p.m. The last three games Upper Merion Area has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
Upper Merion Area took a eight-run defeat the last time they faced off against Phoenixville, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Vikings skirted past the Phantoms 2-1.
Nathan Gordon
| 04/24/25 vs Phoenixville | 1 |
| 04/16/25 @ Boyertown | 1 |
| 04/09/25 @ Perkiomen Valley | 2 |
Nathan Gordon spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered only one earned run on two hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Upper Merion Area's victory was truly a team effort as four different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Henry Destefano, who went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
Pope John Paul II came out on top against Owen J. Roberts on Friday thanks in part to the team's impressive five-run third inning. Pope John Paul II narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past Owen J. Roberts 5-3. Surprisingly, this marked Pope John Paul II's fourth straight game in which the away team has come away the victor.
Pope John Paul II also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and he was also dialed-in: Tyler Timdall gave up three earned runs on six hits and racked up 12 Ks.
On the hitting side, Blaise Desanto was excellent, going 1-for-2 with one triple, one run, and one RBI.
Pope John Paul II's victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 9-2. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.7 runs over those games. As for Upper Merion Area, their record now sits at 8-5.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Upper Merion Area has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Pope John Paul II struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.3 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Upper Merion Area suffered a grim 15-7 defeat to Pope John Paul II in their previous meeting back in March. Can the Vikings avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
