Baseball Game Preview: Penn Cambria Panthers vs. Bishop McCort Crushers

The Penn Cambria Panthers will venture away from home to square off against the Bishop McCort Crushers at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. The last five games Penn Cambria has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.

While Penn Cambria didn't have the best season last year (they finished 8-12), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Cambria Heights 5-4. That's two games straight that the Panthers have won by just one run.

Preston Farabaugh

Earned Runs

04/14/25 @ Westmont Hilltop	3
04/01/25 @ Richland	2

Preston Farabaugh was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He looked comfortable on the mound, tossing two innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits. He also tossed no earned runs, which is notable because Penn Cambria is undefeated when he allows at most three earned runs, but 1-2 otherwise. Farabaugh was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one double.

Farabaugh wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Mason Mento, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base and one run. Kyle Conrad also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.

Meanwhile, it may have taken eight innings to finish the job, but Bishop McCort ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They skirted past Westmont Hilltop 4-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Crushers have posted against the Hilltoppers since April 9, 2019.

Bishop McCort's victory was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 6-3. The home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.4 runs over those games. As for Penn Cambria, they have been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-2 record this season.

Penn Cambria couldn't quite finish off Bishop McCort when the teams last played back in March of 2024 and fell 7-5. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.