For the first time this season, Johnstown-Monroe will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will welcome the Utica Redskins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
Last Thursday, Johnstown-Monroe came up short against Highland and fell 15-10. The Johnnies have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
Brooklyn Wood and Jenna Hochanadel stepped up to the plate in a big way. Wood scored two runs while going 1-for-4, while Hochanadel went 1-for-3 with one triple and one run. Addy Zak was another key player, going 2-for-5 with one double and one RBI.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Utica, who bounced back after a loss on the road on Friday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Granville on Wednesday, sneaking past 9-8. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Redskins have posted against the Blue Aces since May 3, 2017.
Cheyene Smith spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and six unearned) runs on six hits.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Kenzie Fletcher, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-3. The team also got some help courtesy of Emily Meyers, who scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-4.
Utica kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Utica's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 3-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.3 runs over those games. As for Johnstown-Monroe, they now have a losing record of 1-2.
Friday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Johnstown-Monroe hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .378. However, it's not like Utica struggles in that department as they've averaged .315. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Johnstown-Monroe couldn't quite get it done against Utica in their previous meeting back in April of 2024 as they fell 11-6. Will the Johnnies have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
