The New Providence Pioneers will venture away from home to challenge the Oak Knoll Royals at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
New Providence came out on top against Union on Thursday thanks in part to the team's impressive six-run third inning. The Pioneers were the clear victors by an 11-1 margin over the Farmers. 11 seems to be a good number for the Pioneers as the team scooped up a victory with the same number of runs in their previous game.
Ella Celoski made a splash while hitting and pitching. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits over six innings pitched. Celoski was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Haley Kessler, who fired off two home runs and five RBI while going 2-for-4. Carys Lee was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs and one double.
New Providence lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between Oak Knoll and Union Catholic, and Oak Knoll kept the tradition alive. The Royals were the clear victors by a 12-6 margin over the Vikings on Saturday. That looming 12-6 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Royals yet this season.
Like New Providence, Oak Knoll also got a great game from a two-way player: Kaitlin Wincko. On the mound, she struck out six batters over seven innings while giving up just two earned (and four unearned) runs off seven hits. Wincko has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of her four plate appearances with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI. That run marked the first that she has scored this season.
In other batting news, Sofia Wilches was a standout: she went 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs, and one stolen base. She also put up a double, which was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Abby Han, who went 3-for-4 with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
The win was the third in a row for New Providence, bringing their record up to 6-3. Those victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 10.3 runs over those games. As for Oak Knoll, the win snapped their losing streak at four games and leaves them with a 3-6 record.
New Providence took their victory against Oak Knoll in their previous meeting on April 10th by a conclusive 11-1 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Pioneers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
