The Pittston Patriots will challenge the Valley View Cougars at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Pittston has given up an average of 7.5 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Pittston couldn't beat Crestwood on Thursday even though they stacked six runs on them in the sixth inning. The Patriots fell 11-8 to the Comets.
Samantha Herbert spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned (and nine unearned) runs on ten hits.
On the hitting side, Pittston got a big performance out of Lili Hintze, who went 3-for-5 with three RBI and one run. The team also got some help courtesy of Julia Long, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Meanwhile, Valley View came tearing into Wednesday's contest with three straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 12.7 runs), and they left with even more momentum. They put the hurt on the Buckhorns with a sharp 9-3 victory. Considering the Cougars have won 14 matchups by more than five runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Taylor Cawley made a splash no matter where she played. On the mound, she struck out six batters over 2.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit (and not a single walk). She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 15 consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one home run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kalli Karwowski, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. Zoie Krupovich was another key player, going 3-for-4 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Valley View kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in 12 consecutive games.
Valley View pushed their record up to 15-2-1 with the win, which was their seventh straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.6 runs over those games. As for Pittston, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 8-7 record this season.
Pittston skirted past Valley View 2-0 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. Do the Patriots have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cougars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
