Reading hasn't had much luck against Maple Valley recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Rangers will take on the Lions at 3:45 p.m. Reading is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 6.8 runs per game this season.
Reading barely beat Pittsford the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Rangers put the hurt on the Wildcats with a sharp 14-5 win on Friday. The high-flying hitting performance was a huge turnaround for the Rangers considering their one-run performance the contest before.
Will Elder
| 04/17/26 @ Pittsford | 13 |
| 03/31/26 @ Litchfield | 5 |
| 04/14/26 @ Springport | 2 |
| 04/26/25 vs Barry County Christian | 2 |
| 05/30/25 vs Pittsford | 1 |
Will Elder made a splash while hitting and pitching. He struck out 13 batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and three unearned) runs off five hits. Those 13 strikeouts gave him a new career-high. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one RBI. He is becoming a predictor of Reading's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 2-1 (and 1-4 when he doesn't).
In other batting news, Dayton Verity and Gavin Wright did most of the damage at the plate: Verity got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run, while Wright got on base in all four of his plate appearances with two runs, two RBI, and one double. Those three RBI gave Verity a new career-high. Reid Westfall also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Reading always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .588. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.
Meanwhile, Maple Valley suffered their closest defeat since April 24, 2025 on Tuesday. They fell just short of Concord by a score of 5-3. The loss was the Lions' first of the season.
Reading's victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 3-5. As for Maple Valley, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 3-1.
Reading came up short against Maple Valley when the teams last played back in April of 2025, falling 9-4. Can the Rangers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
