Northern Lehigh is 0-9 against Saucon Valley since April of 2015 but things could change on Thursday. The Bulldogs will face off against the Panthers at 4:00 p.m. Northern Lehigh is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.4 runs per game this season.
Northern Lehigh barely beat Catasauqua the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Bulldogs were the clear victors by a 14-2 margin over the Rough Riders on Tuesday. Give some credit to the fans of both teams: the last four times they've met, the home team has come away the winner.
Parker Schaffer was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one walk in six consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with three RBI and one double. That double marked the first that he has hit this season.
Braedon Dougherty
| 04/22/25 vs Catasauqua | 2 |
| 04/11/25 vs Moravian Academy | 1 |
| 04/10/25 vs Notre Dame | 1 |
| 03/27/25 vs Wilson Area | 1 |
In other batting news, Braedon Dougherty was a standout: he got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those two doubles gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Connor Simms, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Northern Lehigh always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .618. They are a perfect 4-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Saucon Valley sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 2-1 win over Lehighton on Tuesday. The two-run effort marked the Panthers' lowest-scoring matchup of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Like Northern Lehigh, Saucon Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Noah Hubert. He pitched 5.1 innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. Hubert was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBI and one double.
Hubert wasn't the only one making solid contact as two players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Cole Hubert, who got on base in all four of his plate appearances with one run.
Northern Lehigh's record is now 5-9. As for Saucon Valley, their record now sits at 10-2.
Northern Lehigh couldn't quite get it done against Saucon Valley when the teams last played back in April of 2024 as they fell 7-4. Can the Bulldogs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
