Dallas is 0-10 against Hazleton Area since April of 2019 but things could change on Friday. The Mountaineers will host the Cougars at 4:15 p.m. Dallas is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.
Hazleton Area will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Dallas extended their winning streak to three on Wednesday. The Mountaineers came out on top against Wilkes-Barre by a score of 9-5.
Dominick Zangardi was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he pitched five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off eight hits. Zangardi was even better at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs, and one stolen base.
In other batting news, Dallas got a big performance out of Jude Nocito, who went 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Dylan Geskey, who went 1-for-2 with two runs and one RBI.
Dallas kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.6 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matches they've averaged 10.6.
Meanwhile, while Hazleton Area put up plenty of runs on Wednesday, the same can't be said for Greater Nanticoke Area. The Cougars blew past the Trojans 14-0. The result was nothing new for the Cougars, who have now won four contests by six runs or more so far this season.
Gavin Perkosky looked comfortable as he struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two hits any time he's pitched this season.
On the hitting side, Ryan Schmidt was a standout: he went a perfect 1-for-1 with three stolen bases and three runs. Those three stolen bases gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Ryan Welch, who went a perfect 1-for-1 with two runs and two RBI.
Hazleton Area pushed their record up to 8-3 with the victory, which was their fourth straight at home. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.5 runs on average over those games. As for Dallas, their victory bumped their record up to 6-4.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Dallas has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.1 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Hazleton Area struggles in that department as they've been averaging 4.5 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
Dallas might still be hurting after the 13-7 defeat they got from Hazleton Area when the teams last played last Tuesday. Will the Mountaineers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
