Claysburg-Kimmel hasn't had much luck against Mount Union recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Bulldogs will be playing in front of their home fans against the Trojans at 1:30 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Mount Union will be up against a hot Claysburg-Kimmel squad: the team just extended their winning streak to 11. Everything went the Bulldogs' way against West Branch on Thursday as they made off with a 13-1 victory. Claysburg-Kimmel's win was all the more impressive since the Warriors were averaging only 2.09 runs allowed on the season.
Harlee Harcolerode
| 04/24/25 vs West Branch | 5 |
| 04/01/25 vs Meyersdale | 2 |
| 03/20/25 @ Tussey Mountain | 2 |
| 04/17/25 @ Curwensville | 1 |
| 04/11/25 @ McConnellsburg | 1 |
Harlee Harcolerode was incredible, going 2-for-3 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. Those five RBI gave her a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Bella Francona, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Claysburg-Kimmel always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .533. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as West Branch only posted an OBP of .222.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Mount Union, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Thursday. They never let Glendale get on the board and left with a 6-0 victory on Wednesday. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Trojans as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Ke' Andra Wible made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out nine over seven innings pitched. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.2 strikeouts per game. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and one run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Payton Williams, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, one run, and one double. That double was her first of the season. Kaylynn Wharton was another key player, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Mount Union's victory bumped their record up to 4-6. As for Claysburg-Kimmel, they pushed their record up to 11-0 with the win, which was their 19th straight at home dating back to last season.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Claysburg-Kimmel has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Mount Union struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Claysburg-Kimmel was able to grind out a solid victory over Mount Union in their previous meeting back in May of 2024, winning 10-7. Will the Bulldogs repeat their success, or do the Trojans have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
