The rainout that pushed this game back two weeks only built the anticipation — and when Pymatuning Valley finally got their shot at St. John on Monday evening, the Lady Lakers made absolutely certain the wait was worth it. PV rolled to a dominant 16-0 road victory over the Heralds in five innings, delivering the kind of performance that sends a clear message to everyone chasing them in the NAC Stars division race.
McKenna Jordan and Elizabeth Jernigan were relentless from the top of the lineup all night long, combining for eight hits and setting the table in every inning that mattered. Jordan went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, two RBI, and two stolen bases — the kind of night that keeps opposing coaches up at night. Jernigan matched her step for step, going 4-for-4 with a walk, three stolen bases, two RBI, and three runs scored. When those two are clicking at the top of the order, the rest of the lineup eats.
And eat they did. Peyton Hudson delivered the biggest offensive performance of the night, driving in six runs on two hits including a three-run home run to left field in the fourth inning that put the game firmly beyond any doubt. Hudson also doubled in the third to plate another run, finishing with a line that was as impressive at the plate as it was from the rubber. Working out of the circle, she was equally dominant — five innings, three hits, zero runs, zero walks, and ten strikeouts. It was the kind of complete two-way effort that defines what makes Hudson so valuable to this team.
The fourth inning was the knockout blow. Jordan doubled to score two, Jernigan drew a walk, Hudson launched her three-run shot to left, and Izzy Anslow followed with a two-run single as PV sent eight runs across in the frame to turn a comfortable lead into a rout.
It is worth noting that St. John was not at full strength on Monday evening. Maddie Holler was not in the lineup, and Izzy Holler — the Heralds’ senior ace who was expected to be the key to keeping PV’s offense in check — left the game after the first inning with an injury. The good news is that Izzy Holler is expected to be fine, which will matter when these two teams meet again. PV’s performance was dominant regardless, but the full picture of this game includes a shorthanded Heralds squad that simply could not withstand what the Lady Lakers brought on this particular evening.
PV finished with 18 hits and zero errors on the night, continuing a stretch of clean, efficient softball that has become the team’s calling card. Coming into Monday, the Lady Lakers had already reeled off four consecutive wins by a combined margin of 59-1 — a run that included three shutouts, two perfect games, victories from all three pitchers on the staff, and just four hits and one run allowed across the entire stretch. Add Monday’s 16-0 performance and that becomes a staggering 75-1 margin over their last five games. The Lady Lakers are playing their best softball of the season at exactly the right time.
With the victory, PV pushes their record to 10-5 overall and 7-1 in NAC Stars divisional play, further cementing their grip on the division title race. These two teams are not done with each other — PV and St. John meet again Monday, May 11th in Andover, and with Izzy Holler expected back and the Heralds owing the Lady Lakers a proper fight, that rematch figures to be a much different game than what unfolded tonight.
Photo Credit: Kelly Summers Photography