Softball Game Preview: West Branch Warriors vs. Cambria Heights Highlanders

The West Branch Warriors will face off against the Cambria Heights Highlanders at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The two teams are strolling into their matchups after big wins in their previous games.

West Branch barely beat Portage the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. West Branch's pitcher stepped up to hand Portage a 17-0 shutout on Friday. With that win, the Warriors brought their scoring average up to 7.8 runs per game.

Makena Moore made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits while striking out 11 over four innings pitched. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't given up a single earned run in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with one home run and four RBI. What's more, she posted two hits, the most she's had since back in May of 2024.

In other batting news, Lindsey Bainey was a standout: she scored three runs and stole a base while going 3-for-4. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Layla Thompson, who scored three runs and stole a base while getting on base in three of her four plate appearances.

West Branch was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .609. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in four consecutive games.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Cambria Heights, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Thursday. Everything went their way against Moshannon Valley on Friday as Cambria Heights made off with a 17-8 victory. That looming 17-8 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Highlanders yet this season.

West Branch's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Cambria Heights, they now have a winning record of 3-2.