The North Schuylkill Spartans will face off against the Panther Valley Panthers at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. North Schuylkill will be looking to extend their current four-game winning streak.
North Schuylkill took a eight-run defeat the last time they faced off against Blue Mountain, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Spartans narrowly escaped with a win as the team sidled past the Eagles 3-1.
Brigid Flynn made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in five consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run. That stolen base marked the first that she has snagged this season.
Flynn wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Monica Selgrade, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Meanwhile, Panther Valley got themselves on the board against Executive Education Academy Charter School on Monday, but Executive Education Academy Charter School never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 15-0 margin over the Raptors. Considering the Panthers have won six matches by more than nine runs this season, Monday's blowout was nothing new.
Like North Schuylkill, Panther Valley also got a great game from a two-way player: Janessa Prudente. She pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Prudente was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs.
In other batting news, Kyla McQuillen was incredible, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in April of 2024. Morgan O'Brien was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run.
Panther Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. They are a perfect 5-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Panther Valley's victory ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 6-5. As for North Schuylkill, their win bumped their record up to 6-1.
Panther Valley's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Thursday. North Schuylkill has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Panther Valley, though, as they've been averaging an even more impressive 4 strikeouts. Will North Schuylkill keep running through batters, or will the Panthers buck the trend?
Everything went North Schuylkill's way against Panther Valley in their previous meeting on April 1st, as North Schuylkill made off with an 18-0 victory. Do the Spartans have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
