Moshannon Valley has gone a perfect 3-0 against Conemaugh Valley recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Monday. The Black Knights/Damsels will head out on the road to face off against the Blue Jays at 4:30 p.m. Moshannon Valley is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.2 runs per game this season.
Moshannon Valley took a eight-run loss the last time they faced off against Tussey Mountain, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Black Knights/Damsels had just enough and edged out the Titans 9-7. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Black Knights/Damsels have posted since March 25th.
Mason Abernethy
| 04/09/25 vs Glendale | 3 |
| 04/24/25 @ Tussey Mountain | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Southern Huntingdon County | 2 |
| 04/14/25 @ West Branch | 2 |
| 03/25/25 vs Curwensville | 2 |
| + 3 more games |
Mason Abernethy was incredible, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run. He is becoming a predictor of Moshannon Valley's success: when he posts at least two stolen bases the team is 4-2 (and 1-5 when he doesn't). Chase Mital was another key player, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.
Moshannon Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .525. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Conemaugh Valley hadn't done well against Portage recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Blue Jays walked away with a 7-2 victory over the Mustangs. Seven seems to be a good number for the Blue Jays as the squad scooped up a win with the same number of runs in their previous game.
Kyron Fields made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out seven batters over 5.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than seven strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run. Those two hits gave him a new career-high.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Jeremy Dietz, who went 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024. Gavin Buchan also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Conemaugh Valley's victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-5. The home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Moshannon Valley, their victory ended a seven-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 5-7.
Conemaugh Valley's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Moshannon Valley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .433. It's a different story for Conemaugh Valley, though, as they've only averaged .353. Will they be able to contain Moshannon Valley's hitters?
Moshannon Valley was able to grind out a solid win over Conemaugh Valley when the teams last played back in April of 2024, winning 4-1. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Black Knights/Damsels since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
