Michigan City hasn't had much luck against Valparaiso recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Wolves will be playing in front of their home fans against the Vikings at 4:30 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Michigan City comes in on three and Valparaiso on four.
On Saturday, it was close, but Michigan City sidestepped La Lumiere for a 6-5 victory.
Zaire McKinney
| 04/11/25 vs Hammond Morton | 6 |
| 05/01/25 @ Tri-Township | 3 |
| 04/10/25 @ Portage | 3 |
| 05/03/25 vs La Lumiere | 2 |
| 05/03/25 vs South Bend Riley | 2 |
| + 3 more games |
The team relied heavily on Zaire McKinney, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base. Michigan City is 5-1 when McKinney posts two or more runs, but 0-11 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Jacob Hazel, who went 1-for-2 with one run and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Valparaiso got themselves on the board against South Bend Adams on Saturday, but South Bend Adams never followed suit. They were the clear victors by a 12-0 margin over the Eagles. The Vikings might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six contests by seven runs or more this season.
Valparaiso also got a great performance from Zach Troxel as he didn't allow a single earned run while striking out six over five innings pitched. Those six strikeouts gave Troxel a new career-high.
At the plate, Matthew Civanich was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI, one triple, and one stolen base. Those four RBI gave him a new career-high. Nate Simpson was another key player, going 1-for-2 with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Valparaiso pushed their record up to 10-5 with the win, which was their third straight at home. Those home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 11.3 runs over those games. As for Michigan City, their win bumped their record up to 5-12.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Tuesday as neither team is afraid to steal. Michigan City has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 2.9 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Valparaiso 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.
Michigan City might still be hurting after the 11-1 loss they got from Valparaiso in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Wolves avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
