The Twin Valley Raiders will head out on the road to take on the Berks Catholic Saints at 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Twin Valley is coming into the match hot, having won their last 16 games.
Twin Valley had to skate by with only a one-run margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the seven-run drubbing they dealt Lancaster Catholic on Saturday. The Raiders put the hurt on the Crusaders with a sharp 9-2 victory. The Raiders might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won 12 contests by six runs or more this season.
Erin Cromwell made a splash while hitting and pitching. She struck out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and one unearned) run off four hits (and only one walk). She has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one triple, two RBI, and one run. That triple was her first of the season.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Hailie Barton, who went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI. Emma Mattson was another key player, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one run.
Twin Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 13 hits. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Lancaster Catholic only managed three hits.
Meanwhile, Berks Catholic posted their closest win since May 6, 2024 on Saturday. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Bishop McDevitt 4-3.
Like Twin Valley, Berks Catholic also got a great game from a two-way player: Giana Mirenda. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 14 batters over seven innings while giving up three earned runs off three hits. Those 14 strikeouts gave Mirenda a new career-high. She was also stellar in the batter's box, firing off two home runs and three RBI while going 2-for-2.
Mirenda wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Sophia Bradley, who went 1-for-3 with one stolen base and one run.
Twin Valley pushed their record up to 17-2 with the win, which was their sixth straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.0 runs on average over those games. As for Berks Catholic, their record now sits at 5-8.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Twin Valley has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .448. However, it's not like Berks Catholic struggles in that department as they've averaged .438. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Twin Valley beat Berks Catholic 3-0 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Raiders since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.