Baseball Game Preview: Hazleton Area Cougars vs. Spring-Ford Rams

Cougars

Runs

04/03/25 vs Pittston	4
04/01/25 @ Greater Nanticoke Area	15
03/29/25 @ Liberty	8
03/22/25 vs North Penn	7

The Hazleton Area Cougars will take on the Spring-Ford Rams at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Hazleton Area is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.5 runs per game this season.

Hazleton Area blew Pittston out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Thursday Pittston got their revenge. The Cougars fell just short of the Patriots by a score of 6-4. The home team had taken home the W every time these teams have met since May 13, 2022, but that streak is no more.

Meanwhile, Spring-Ford had already won two in a row and they went ahead and made it three on Wednesday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand the Bears a 3-0 shutout. That three run margin sets a new team best for the Rams this season.

Ethan Freed tossed a big game, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Spring-Ford is 2-1 when he allows at most one earned run, but 1-2 otherwise.

At the plate, Spring-Ford's victory was truly a team effort as two different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Liam Quinn, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-3. That run was Quinn's first of the season.

The win got Spring-Ford back to even at 3-3. As for Hazleton Area, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-2.

Spring-Ford's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hazleton Area has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .479. It's a different story for Spring-Ford, though, as they've only averaged .289. Will they be able to contain Hazleton Area's hitters?

Hazleton Area couldn't quite get it done against Spring-Ford in their previous meeting back in March of 2024 as they fell 7-2. Will the Cougars have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.