The Garnet Valley Jaguars will challenge the Upper Darby Royals at 3:45 p.m. on Monday. Garnet Valley will be strutting in after a win while Upper Darby will be coming in after a loss.
On Wednesday, Garnet Valley needed a bit of extra time to put away Haverford. They skirted past the Fords 6-5. The Jaguars haven't had any issues with the Fords recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Ashlyn Thompson looked comfortable as she tossed three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. Those hits were her first of the season.
On the hitting side, Zoey Rogers was incredible, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4. She also launched a home run, marking her first of the season. Audrie Criswell was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one home run, two runs, and two RBI.
Garnet Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That's the most hits they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Upper Darby lost 11-3 to Interboro on Thursday. The Royals have struggled against the Buccaneers recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost meetings.
Sarah Gentile spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and seven unearned) runs on nine hits and racked up six Ks. She has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Upper Darby saw four different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Caralyn Battersby, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 1-for-4.
Garnet Valley's record is now 2-3. As for Upper Darby, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. Garnet Valley has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Upper Darby struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.2 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Garnet Valley took their win against Upper Darby when the teams last played back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 13-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for Garnet Valley since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
