Payne Tech hasn't had much luck against Montclair recently, but that could start to change on Wednesday. The Lions will head out on the road to take on the Mounties at 4:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Tuesday, Payne Tech was able to grind out a solid victory over Belleville, taking the game 11-6. The Lions haven't had any issues with the Buccaneers recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive win against them.
Leilani Oyola
| 05/12/26 vs Belleville | 14 |
| 05/08/26 vs Newark Academy | 12 |
| 05/07/26 vs Bloomfield | 2 |
| 05/04/26 @ Montclair Kimberley Academy | 3 |
| 05/01/26 @ Bayonne | 1 |
| + 5 more games |
Leilani Oyola made a big impact no matter where she played. She struck out 14 batters over seven innings while giving up five earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 5.1 strikeouts per game. She was also stellar in the batter's box, going 3-for-5 with three stolen bases, four runs, and one double. That's the most runs she has posted since back in April of 2025.
In other batting news, Payne Tech let Makayla Pittman and Olivia Mendez run wild. Pittman got on base in four of her five plate appearances with three runs and two RBI, while Mendez went 4-for-5 with three runs and one double. That's the most runs Mendez has posted since back in May of 2025. Hailey Baez also deserves some recognition as she snagged her first stolen base of the season.
Payne Tech kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Montclair hadn't done well against West Essex recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Tuesday. The Mounties' pitchers stepped up to hand the Knights a 7-0 shutout. The Mounties not only won on Tuesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 16th (when they won 16-2).
Payne Tech's record now sits at 7-12. As for Montclair, their record is now 5-14.
Payne Tech might still be hurting after the 15-3 loss they got from Montclair when the teams last played back in April of 2025. Can the Lions avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
