Schuylkill Valley hasn't had much luck against Schuylkill Haven recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Panthers will take on the Hurricanes at 4:30 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Schuylkill Valley took a loss when they played away from home on Monday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They put the hurt on Oley Valley with a sharp 9-2 win. Considering the Panthers have won five games by more than six runs this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.
Katelyn Raymond spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered just two earned runs on five hits.
On the hitting side, Kayla Konetsky was a standout: she went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run, and one double. Brooke Angstadt also deserves some recognition as she hit her first triple of the season.
They weren't the only ones making solid contact: Schuylkill Valley kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 15 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.5 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matches they've averaged 10.4.
Meanwhile, Schuylkill Haven posted their closest victory since March 27th on Friday. They won by a run and slipped past Oley Valley 5-4. The win continues a trend for the Hurricanes in their matchups with the Lynx: they've now won three in a row.
Schuylkill Haven also let their pitcher toss all seven innings and she was also dialed-in: Gracelyn Line gave up four earned runs on nine hits and racked up seven Ks. Line has been consistent: she hasn't given up more than one walk in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, Schuylkill Haven got a massive performance out of Nicole Domermuth, who went a perfect 2-for-2 with one home run. Another player making a difference was Teagan Wehr, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Schuylkill Haven's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-3. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.5 runs over those games. As for Schuylkill Valley, their record is now 9-4.
Monday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Schuylkill Valley hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .325. However, it's not like Schuylkill Haven struggles in that department as they've averaged .346. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
