vs
| 05/17/24 - Home | 15-6 W |
| 05/03/24 - Home | 10-0 W |
| 05/19/23 - Home | 7-6 W |
| 04/24/23 - Home | 15-5 W |
| 05/04/22 - Away | 14-4 W |
| + 3 more games |
Central is a perfect 8-0 against Penn Cambria since April of 2015 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Dragons will take on the Panthers at 4:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
As a matter of fact, Central put up the most runs they have all season on Thursday. They put the hurt on Greater Johnstown with a sharp 23-1 win. The Dragons haven't had any issues with the Trojans recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Kyle Klotz was a standout: he went a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBI, one stolen base, and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Jay Hoenstine, who went 2-for-4 with three stolen bases, three RBI, and two runs.
Central always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .676. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
For whatever reason, it's the away team that's had the advantage when Penn Cambria and Bishop Carroll meet (three straight games heading into this one) and that held true again on Tuesday. The Panthers blew past the Huskies 23-11. That 12 run margin sets a new team best for the Panthers this season.
Ayden Himmer was incredible, getting on base in five of his six plate appearances with four runs, two stolen bases, and one RBI. Those four runs gave him a new career-high. Kyle Conrad also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.
Penn Cambria pushed their record up to 7-2 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. The road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 16.0 runs over those games. As for Central, their record is now 10-4.
Friday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Central hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .383. However, it's not like Penn Cambria struggles in that department as they've averaged .315. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Central took their win against Penn Cambria in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 15-6 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Dragons since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
