Pomperaug hasn't had much luck against Joel Barlow recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Panthers will venture away from home to face off against the Falcons at 4:15 p.m.
Pomperaug fought the good fight in their extra-innings contest against New Milford on Monday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Green Wave by a score of 6-5. The game snapped a strange streak: the last four times these teams have met, it?s been the away team that?s taken home the W.
Kyle Bisceglia was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he tossed six innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off seven hits. What's more, he gave up only one walk, the fewest he's had over his last three games.
At the plate, Alex Augustine made the most of his time at bat despite the final result and went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run. Another player making a difference was Noah Pane, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base and one run.
Joel Barlow came out on top against Bunnell on Monday thanks in part to the team's impressive seven-run fifth inning. The Falcons' pitcher stepped up to hand the Bulldogs a 10-0 shutout. The result was nothing new for the Falcons, who have now won seven matches by eight runs or more so far this season.
Gavin Maryott made a splash while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out nine over six innings pitched. Those nine strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one run.
In other batting news, Billy Bardani was a standout: he went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double. That double was his first of the season. Jimmy Kennedy was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two doubles.
Joel Barlow was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .481. That was just more of the same: they've now posted a batting average of .360 or higher in six consecutive contests.
Pomperaug's loss dropped their record down to 7-10. As for Joel Barlow, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won eight of their last nine games. That's provided a nice bump to their 13-2 record this season.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Pomperaug has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 4.4 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Joel Barlow struggles in that department as they've been averaging 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Pomperaug suffered a grim 14-3 defeat to Joel Barlow when the teams last played back in April. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
