The Hempfield Black Knights will take on the Central Dauphin Rams at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Hempfield is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.
Last Wednesday, Hempfield got the win against Donegal by a conclusive 8-2.
Jonathan O'Maille made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he struck out eight batters over six innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits. O'Maille was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with one double and one RBI. That double was his first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Brayden Hostetter, who scored a run while going 1-for-3.
Hempfield always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .543. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Central Dauphin played in-conference for the first time on Thursday and they got just the result they were looking for. They sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 6-4 victory over Chambersburg. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Rams have posted since May 2, 2024.
Like Hempfield, Central Dauphin also got a great game from a two-way player: Alex Scaringi. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing five innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off three hits. Scaringi was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two RBI.
In other batting news, Connor Hevel was incredible, scoring two runs while going 3-for-3. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in doubles (two).
Hempfield's victory bumped their record up to 4-0. As for Central Dauphin, the win got them back to even at 2-2.
Central Dauphin's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Hempfield has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .472. It's a different story for Central Dauphin, though, as they've only averaged .342. Will they be able to contain Hempfield's hitters? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
