Proviso West is 0-10 against York since April of 2016 but things could change on Friday. The Panthers will head out to challenge the Dukes at 4:30 p.m. Proviso West has given up an average of 6.6 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Proviso West is headed in fresh off scoring the most runs they have all season. They put the hurt on Francis W. Parker with a sharp 17-11 win on Saturday.
Jayden Caston made a big impact while hitting and pitching. He tossed 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits. Caston was also big at the plate, scoring two runs and stealing a base while getting on base in three of his five plate appearances. That stolen base was his first of the season.
In other batting news, Proviso West got a big performance out of Demarco Alvarado, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-5. Andres Becerra was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in four of his six plate appearances.
Proviso West kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, York has relied on a stalwart pitchers averaging 3.83 runs allowed per game, but that average took a hit on Thursday. They lost 10-2 to Maine South. The contest marked the Dukes' lowest-scoring match so far this season.
York saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Josh Fleming, who scored a run while going 2-for-3.
Proviso West's victory ended a five-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 3-2. As for York, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 5-1.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Proviso West has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like York struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 2.7 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Proviso West couldn't quite get it done against York when the teams last played back in May of 2024 as they fell 3-0. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
