Shelbyville is on a ten-game streak of home wins, while Center Grove is on a four-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Golden Bears will host the Trojans at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. Shelbyville will aim to continue their three-game streak of scoring more runs each match than the last.
The home team had won the previous four meetings between Shelbyville and Cathedral, and Shelbyville kept the tradition alive. The Golden Bears skirted past the Fighting Irish 9-7.
Gracie Crafton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered four earned (and three unearned) runs on 11 hits. She has been consistent for a while: she hasn't given up more than two walks in 11 consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Addison Stieneker, who fired off two home runs and five RBI while going 3-for-3. Anna Shearer was another key player, going 2-for-4 with one home run.
They weren't the only ones working in the home run department: Shelbyville lost a few balls and finished the game with three home runs. That's the most home runs they've posted since back in April.
Meanwhile, Center Grove never let their opponents score on Thursday. They came out on top against Mt. Vernon by a score of 3-0. That's two games straight that the Trojans have won by exactly three runs.
The result came thanks to Sarah Riley's shutout, as she gave up just four hits and racked up 13 Ks.
On the hitting side, Sydney Herrmann was excellent, going 1-for-3 with one run, one double, and one RBI. Another player making a difference was Hayden Baird, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with one run.
Shelbyville's victory bumped their record up to 17-11. As for Center Grove, their win bumped their record up to 20-3.
Saturday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Shelbyville hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .356. However, it's not like Center Grove struggles in that department as they've averaged .393. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Shelbyville came up short against Center Grove when the teams last played back in May of 2024, falling 5-0. Will the Golden Bears have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more softball content.
