Crescent Valley hasn't had much luck against West Albany recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Raiders will be playing in front of their home fans against the Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. Crescent Valley has given up an average of 12.3 runs per game this season, but Monday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Crescent Valley barely beat Corvallis the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Raiders were the clear victors by a 21-12 margin over the Spartans on Friday. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Raiders.
Abby Kessler was incredible, going 4-for-5 with one home run, four runs, and three RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March. Ashley Howitt was another key player, getting on base in three of her six plate appearances with three stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI.
Meanwhile, West Albany posted their closest victory since May 10, 2024 on Friday. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past South Albany 9-7. The victory continues a trend for the Bulldogs in their matchups with the Redhawks: they've now won five in a row.
Gabriella Young 2027 spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered five earned (and two unearned) runs on seven hits and racked up 11 Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Campbell Akers 2027, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Meritt Forney 2025, who got on base in three of her five plate appearances with two runs and one RBI.
Crescent Valley's win bumped their record up to 5-12. As for West Albany, their victory bumped their record up to 6-11.
West Albany's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Crescent Valley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .446. It's a different story for West Albany, though, as they've only averaged .318. Will they be able to contain Crescent Valley's hitters?
Crescent Valley suffered a grim 11-0 defeat to West Albany when the teams last played back in April. Will the Raiders have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
