Pleasant Valley hasn't had much luck against Chico recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Vikings will face off against the Panthers at 1:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Pleasant Valley 3.4, Chico 2.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Pleasant Valley is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They put the hurt on Las Plumas with a sharp 18-1 win. The Vikings' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Benji Montgomery looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent for a while: he hasn't given up more than one earned run any time he's pitched this season.
At the plate, Hudson Hack and Scott McKeown did most of the damage at the plate: Hack got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI, while McKeown got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. That's the most RBI McKeown has posted since back in March of 2025. Another player making a difference was Brayden Wynkoop, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Pleasant Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .611. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Las Plumas only posted an OBP of .200.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Chico duked it out with Foothill on Friday. The Panthers won by a run and slipped past the Cougars 8-7. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since March 24th, but that streak is no more.
Jorden Neugebauer was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He tossed four innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. Neugebauer was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Chico let Jaxxon Tweedt and Guiseppe Bianchi run wild. Tweedt went 1-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base, while Bianchi went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Henry Heckathorn, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI.
Pleasant Valley has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten contests. That's provided a nice bump to their 21-8 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.9 runs on average over those games. As for Chico, their win bumped their record up to 20-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pleasant Valley has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Chico struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.6 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Pleasant Valley skirted past Chico 3-1 in their previous meeting last Tuesday. Do the Vikings have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
