The Ligonier Valley Rams will head out on the road to face off against the Serra Catholic Eagles at 4:15 p.m. on Monday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the pair posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Last Wednesday, Ligonier Valley never let their opponents score. They put the hurt on Apollo Ridge with a sharp 11-0 win. That looming 11-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Ligonier Valley yet this season.
Tyler Smith made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and only two hits while striking out six over 4.2 innings pitched. Smith has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in three consecutive pitching appearances. Smith was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Duncan Foust was a standout: he scored a run and stole three bases while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. Leo Bazala was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Meanwhile, Serra Catholic entered their tilt with Riverview with five consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with six. They were the clear victor by a 10-0 margin over the Raiders. Serra Catholic might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team's won five contests by eight runs or more this season.
Like Ligonier Valley, Serra Catholic also got a great game from a two-way player: Isiah Petty. He didn't allow a single earned run and only one hit over five innings pitched. Petty was also big at the plate, scoring four runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.
In other batting news, Jake Holmes was excellent, scoring two runs while going 3-for-3. Another player making a difference was Collin Holmes, who scored a run and stole a base while going 1-for-2.
The victory made it two in a row for Ligonier Valley and bumps their season record up to 3-4. As for Serra Catholic, their win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 7-1.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both teams have some strikeout artists on the roster. Ligonier Valley has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Serra Catholic struggles in that department as they've been averaging 8.1. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Ligonier Valley came up short against Serra Catholic in their previous meeting back in April of 2023, falling 7-4. Can Ligonier Valley avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
