Patuxent hasn't had much luck against Leonardtown recently, but that could start to change on Monday. The Panthers are taking a road trip to square off against the Raiders at 4:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Patuxent took a loss when they played away from home on Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Wednesday. They came out on top against McDonough by a score of 11-7. The Panthers' hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
Hannah Bruno made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and five unearned) runs off five hits. Bruno was also big at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, two doubles, and one triple. That triple was her first of the season.
In other batting news, Rose Harrell was incredible, going 3-for-4 with one triple, one stolen base, and one run. She also hit a double, marking her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Kylie Coombs, who scored a run while getting on base in all four of her plate appearances.
Meanwhile, while Leonardtown put up plenty of runs on Thursday, the same can't be said for Thomas Stone. The Raiders blew past the Cougars 22-0. The win continues a trend for the Raiders in their matchups with the Cougars: they've now won eight in a row.
Like Patuxent, Leonardtown also got a great game from a two-way player: Ashley Watson. She struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Watson has been nothing but reliable on the mound: she hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Vanessa Brooks, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with one home run, four runs, and five RBI. That's the most RBI she has posted since back in March of 2024. Lindsay Hunter was another key player, going 1-for-3 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Leonardtown lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Leonardtown's victory was their seventh straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-1. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 0.3 runs on average over those games. As for Patuxent, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-6.
Patuxent might still be hurting after the 10-0 defeat they got from Leonardtown when the teams last played back in April of 2024. Can the Panthers avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
