Crescent Valley hasn't had much luck against Silverton recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Raiders will look to defend their home field against the Foxes at 5:00 p.m. Crescent Valley has given up an average of 12.2 runs per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Crescent Valley blew South Albany out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Wednesday South Albany got their revenge. The Raiders fell just short of the Redhawks by a score of 18-16. The Raiders have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Ashley Howitt was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 4-for-4 with five runs, four RBI, and two doubles. Abby Kessler was another key player, going 1-for-4 with four runs and one double.
Meanwhile, Silverton had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12.5 runs) and they went ahead and made it three on Wednesday. They never let the Bulldogs get on the board and left with a 4-0 win.
Mckenzee Petersen made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out six over six innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one walk in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. That stolen base marked the first that she has snagged this season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Madalynn Ehrens, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs. Another player making a difference was Hannah Houts, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one stolen base.
Crescent Valley's loss dropped their record down to 3-8. As for Silverton, their victory bumped their record up to 7-4.
Friday's matchup will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Crescent Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .351. However, it's not like Silverton struggles in that department as they've averaged .319. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Crescent Valley suffered a grim 17-1 defeat to Silverton in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Raiders avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
