Punxsutawney is on a four-game streak of home wins (dating back to last season), while Central Mountain is on a nine-game streak of away wins (also dating back to last season): one of those streaks is about to end. The Chucks will welcome the Wildcats at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Wednesday, Punxsutawney got the win against Brookville by a conclusive 13-1. The win continues a trend for the Chucks in their matchups with the Raiders: they've now won nine in a row.
Parker Stahlman made a splash no matter where he played. He pitched 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Stahlman was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in May of 2024.
In other batting news, Punxsutawney got a big performance out of Lucas Silverstein, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Landon Neal, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Punxsutawney always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .517. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Brookville only posted an OBP of .167.
Meanwhile, Central Mountain got themselves on the board against Jersey Shore on Wednesday, but Jersey Shore never followed suit. They blew past the Bulldogs 15-0. The Wildcats' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Like Punxsutawney, Central Mountain also got a great game from a two-way player: Blake Walker. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. Walker was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
In other pitching news, Austin Frank looked comfortable as he struck out six batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Malaky Moyd was a standout: he got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Nate Wian was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base.
Punxsutawney's victory bumped their record up to 11-2. As for Central Mountain, their win bumped their record up to 12-0.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Punxsutawney has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Central Mountain struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.8 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
