Conotton Valley is 2-8 against Strasburg-Franklin since May of 2022 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Wednesday. The Rockets will be taking part in a tournament against the Tigers at 5:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Conotton Valley 2.4, Strasburg-Franklin 3.2) so any runs scored will be well earned.
Conotton Valley is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They were the clear victors by a 15-5 margin over Bridgeport. The result was nothing new for the Rockets, who have now won 16 matchups by six runs or more so far this season.
Maddison Kelley made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits (and not a single walk). She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 15 consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
In other batting news, Ava Williams was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with one home run, four RBI, and one triple. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April. Braxton Neilson was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one home run, four RBI, and two runs.
Conotton Valley always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .514. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Bridgeport only posted an OBP of .304.
Meanwhile, Strasburg-Franklin waltzed into their contest on Monday with eight straight wins... but they left with nine. They came out on top against the Redskins by a score of 8-3.
Miley Reifenschneider spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on six hits and racked up 12 Ks.
On the hitting side, Olivia Spidell was excellent, earning one RBI, one run, and two stolen bases. Another player making a difference was Addie Sundheimer, who went 1-for-3 with two RBI and one double.
Strasburg-Franklin pushed their record up to 18-8 with the win, which was their fifth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.0 runs over those games. As for Conotton Valley, the win made it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 24-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Conotton Valley has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Strasburg-Franklin struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.2 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Conotton Valley skirted past Strasburg-Franklin 3-2 in their previous matchup back in March. Will the Rockets repeat their success, or do the Tigers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
