The Orchard Park Quakers will take on the St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute Marauders at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Orchard Park is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.2 runs per game this season.
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Orchard Park extended their winning streak to three on Thursday. The Quakers came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 5-4 W against West Seneca West. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Quakers have posted against the Warhawks since April 5, 2022.
Zach Nalawadi
| 04/24/25 vs West Seneca West | 3 |
| 04/23/25 @ West Seneca West | 1 |
| 04/07/25 vs Canisius | 1 |
| 04/01/25 vs Clarence | 1 |
Zach Nalawadi made a splash no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out 11 batters over five innings while giving up just two earned runs off one hit. Nalawadi was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs. Those three RBI gave him a new career-high.
Nalawadi wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Brody Monaco, who went 1-for-2 with one run.
Meanwhile, St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute fell victim to Bishop Timon-St. Jude and their airtight pitching crew on Tuesday. They took a 5-0 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Tigers. The matchup marked the first time this season in which the Marauders were not able to get on the board.
St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute also got a good showing from Matthew Anzalone, who struck out seven batters over 3.2 innings while giving up no earned runs off three hits (and not a single walk). Anzalone is becoming a predictor of the Marauders' success: when he allows at most one earned run the team is 2-1 (and 0-3 when he doesn't).
Orchard Park now has a winning record of 3-2. As for St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, they have been struggling recently as they've lost three of their last four games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 2-4 record this season.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Orchard Park has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8.6 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Orchard Park beat St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute 9-4 when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Do the Quakers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Marauders turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
