McGuffey is 2-8 against Waynesburg Central since May of 2018 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Wednesday. The Highlanders will host the Raiders at 4:15 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
McGuffey will roll into the match after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any runs two weeks ago, then bounced right back against Steel Valley last Monday. The Highlanders put the hurt on the Ironmen with a sharp 17-4 victory. The Highlanders' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Makenna Crothers made a big impact no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out nine batters over five innings while giving up three earned (and one unearned) runs off five hits. She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Mackenzie Shrader, who went 2-for-4 with four RBI, one run, and one double. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was Nicole Klages, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one stolen base.
McGuffey kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post 11 or more hits.
Meanwhile, Waynesburg Central never let their opponents score on Thursday. Everything went their way against Bentworth as they made off with a 14-0 win. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Raiders.
Like McGuffey, Waynesburg Central also got a great game from a two-way player: Gina Tedrow. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 13 over five innings pitched. Tedrow was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all four of her plate appearances with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, Waynesburg Central got a massive performance out of Kolbi Rostoka, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with one home run and two runs. Ellie Makel was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
McGuffey's victory was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 10-5. The road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 13.5 runs over those games. As for Waynesburg Central, their victory bumped their record up to 10-6.
Both McGuffey and Waynesburg Central just can't seem to miss. The Highlanders have been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 9.3 hits per game. However, it's not like Waynesburg Central struggles in that department as they've been averaging only 3.8 hits. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
McGuffey skirted past Waynesburg Central 1-0 in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Will the Highlanders repeat their success, or do the Raiders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
