The Elizabeth Forward Warriors will face off against the East Pennsboro Panthers on Thursday. The two teams each escaped (but just barely!) with wins against their previous opponents.
Elizabeth Forward is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They skirted past Punxsutawney 5-3.
Cy Herchelroath made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run while striking out seven over seven innings pitched. Herchelroath was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one home run and two RBI.
In other batting news, Charlie Nigut was incredible, getting on base in all four of his plate appearances with four stolen bases and three runs. That's the most stolen bases he has posted since back in April of 2024. Another player making a difference was AJ Grese, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
Meanwhile, East Pennsboro strolled into their game on Monday with a perfect record and they left with the same. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 3-2 W against Archbishop Wood. That's two games straight that the Panthers have won by just one run.
Niko Thalassinos looked comfortable as he tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than one hit in six consecutive appearances.
On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Aaron Angelo, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double.
East Pennsboro's victory was their 15th straight at home, which pushed their record up to 23-0. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.1 runs over those games. As for Elizabeth Forward, they are on a roll lately: they've won seven of their last eight matches. That's provided a nice bump to their 17-4 record this season.
Thursday's game will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Elizabeth Forward hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .321. However, it's not like East Pennsboro struggles in that department as they've averaged .341. 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.
