Softball Recap: Sugar Valley Rural Takes a Loss

Sugar Valley Rural had lost four straight at home, but on Thursday they dropped their record down to 1-8 to make it five. They lost 18-0 to the Montgomery Red Raiders. That's two games in a row now that the Phoenix have lost by exactly 18 runs.

As for Montgomery, the win keeps they at an undefeated 12-0. The team's perfect season has a lot to do with their hitting performance: the team's won by an average of 11.9 runs thus far.

For Montgomery's part, Ava Hartman made a splash no matter where she played. She pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Hartman has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than one walk in six consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI.

In other batting news, Delilah Preitz and Arianna Snyder did most of the damage at the plate: Preitz went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and two RBI, while Snyder went 2-for-3 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. That's the most RBI Snyder has posted since back in May of 2024. Madisyn Miller was another key player, going 1-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.

Sugar Valley Rural will get a bit of extra time to process the defeat as their next game is a ways off. They'll take on Shamokin Area at 4:30 p.m. on the 12th. As for Montgomery, they will venture away from home to face off against Warrior Run at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.