The Saegertown Panthers are taking a road trip to challenge the Lakeview Sailors at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Saegertown sitting on 13 straight wins and Lakeview on four.
On Tuesday, Saegertown made easy work of Cambridge Springs and carried off a 17-1 victory. Considering the Panthers have won nine matches by more than nine runs this season, Tuesday's blowout was nothing new.
Demarcus Manning made a splash no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching two innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent: he hasn't given up more than one earned run in five consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in all three of his plate appearances with two runs.
In other batting news, William Shaffer was a standout: he went a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in March. Another player making a difference was Gabe Jordan, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, four RBI, and one stolen base.
Saegertown kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least eight hits in four consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Lakeview). They blew past Cambridge Springs 23-1 on Monday. With that win, the Sailors brought their scoring average up to 6.8 runs per game.
Like Saegertown, Lakeview also got a great game from a two-way player: Lucas Fagley. He didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out six over four innings pitched. Fagley was also big at the plate, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with three RBI, two runs, and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Maddox Bell, who went 2-for-3 with one home run, three runs, and three RBI. He also put up a triple, which was his first of the season. Tanner Vincent was another key player, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, and one double.
Saegertown's victory was their sixth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 13-1. Those road wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 14.5 runs over those games. As for Lakeview, their record now sits at 14-3.
Wednesday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Saegertown has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .532. However, it's not like Lakeview struggles in that department as they've averaged .440. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Saegertown was able to grind out a solid victory over Lakeview in their previous meeting back in April, winning 5-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Panthers since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
