The United Lions will square off against the Conemaugh Township Indians at 4:30 p.m. on Monday. United is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 7.3 runs per game this season.
While United's win against Portage wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Lions narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Mustangs 8-6. The win was nothing new for the Lions as they're now sitting on three straight.
Ryan Felix made a splash while hitting and pitching. He tossed six innings while giving up just two earned (and four unearned) runs off ten hits. Felix was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Ethan Chilenski
| 03/25/25 vs Homer-Center | 9 |
| 04/14/25 @ West Shamokin | 4 |
| 04/23/25 vs Northern Cambria | 3 |
In other pitching news, Ethan Chilenski looked comfortable as he pitched one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. United is 2-1 when Chilenski allows one or fewer hits, but 5-7 otherwise.
Felix wasn't the only one making solid contact as five players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Shaydon Oleksa, who went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Conemaugh Township won against Northern Cambria on Thursday with 11 runs and they decided to stick to that run total again on Friday. The Indians didn't even let Portage on the board, marking the Indians' second-straight 11-0 shutout. The Indians might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won nine contests by seven runs or more this season.
Like United, Conemaugh Township also got a great game from a two-way player: Brennan Lohr. On the mound, he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. What's more, Lohr posted four strikeouts, the most he's had over his last six matches. He was also big at the plate, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with three stolen bases and one run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Kaden Valentine, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with one stolen base, two RBI, and one run. DJ Bambino was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
Conemaugh Township was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .389. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Portage only posted a batting average of .105.
Conemaugh Township is on a roll lately: they've won nine of their last ten games. That's provided a nice bump to their 13-3 record this season. Those victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 2.8 runs on average over those games. As for United, their win bumped their record up to 7-8.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Monday as neither team is afraid to steal. United has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 3.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Conemaugh Township struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 3.6 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more.
United suffered a grim 10-3 defeat to Conemaugh Township in their previous meeting back in April of 2024. Can the Lions avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
