The Lakeland Chiefs will take on the Old Forge Blue Devils at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Lakeland has a tough task ahead: they'll enter the game with three straight defeats, while Old Forge will come in with three straight wins.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Lakeland and Riverside, and Riverside kept the tradition alive. The Chiefs fell just short of the Vikings by a score of 8-7 on Monday. That's two games in a row now that the Chiefs have lost by just one run.
Riley Arzie was cooking despite her team's loss, scoring a run while going 2-for-2. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Olivia Cunningham, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Meanwhile, Old Forge made easy work of Dunmore on Monday and carried off a 13-7 victory. The result was nothing new for the Blue Devils, who have now won four contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Kamryn Notari was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, pitching seven innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off five hits. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Ava Arnold was incredible, getting on base in three of her five plate appearances with one home run, two runs, and two RBI. Danica Pritchyk was another key player, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 1-for-2.
Old Forge kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are 2-1 when they post 11 or more hits.
Lakeland's loss dropped their record down to 4-6. As for Old Forge, the win got them back to even at 4-4.
Lakeland suffered a grim 8-0 defeat to Old Forge when the teams last played back in May of 2024. Can the Chiefs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
