Pittston hasn't had much luck against Hazleton Area recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Patriots will square off against the Cougars at 4:30 p.m. Pittston will come into the match with an undefeated record on the line.
Pittston's pitching crew heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Tuesday. They were the clear victors by a 9-0 margin over Crestwood. Considering the Patriots have won four games by more than six runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Silvio Giardina made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over six innings pitched. Giardina was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-3.
In other batting news, Beau Widdick was incredible, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4. He also put up a double, which was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Jake Aftewicz, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two RBI and one double.
Meanwhile, Hazleton Area got the win against Greater Nanticoke Area on Tuesday by a conclusive 15-5. The victory continues a trend for the Cougars in their matchups with the Trojans: they've now won four in a row.
The team relied heavily on Chris Knelly, who went 1-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. Logan Hearity was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
Hazleton Area always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .543. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Greater Nanticoke Area only posted an OBP of .360.
Pittston pushed their record up to 5-0 with the win, which was their 13th straight at home dating back to last season. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Hazleton Area, they now have a winning record of 2-1.
Thursday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Pittston has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .553. However, it's not like Hazleton Area struggles in that department as they've averaged .491. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Pittston might still be hurting after the 8-0 loss they got from Hazleton Area in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Patriots avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
